Are You Taller In The Morning? Fact or Myth

Tonight before going to bed, try to measure your height and then do it right after waking up in the morning. Believe us, you will be surprised when you discover that you are nearly one inch taller than you were the night before.

Are you taller in the morning indeed? Is it permanent or temporary?

This article will discover the science behind as well as give helpful tips for boosting your morning height gain.

The reason behind your height increase every morning

One of the common explanations for your height change in the morning is the effects of gravity.

Gravity is known as an essential force on Earth. It keeps our planet in orbit at a safe distance from the sun and maintains a comfortable atmosphere. But it weighs down the human body, making us a bit shorter by the end of the day. When we jump out of the bed in the morning, gravity pushes down on us by putting pressure on our joints and compressing our spines, thereby making our bodies shrink a bit.

But at bedtime, our bodies get a slight respite as lying down changes the gravitational forces. And sleeping horizontally makes our spines and joints decompress and turn back to the height lost during the day. That means we, once again, are slightly taller by morning.

Looking into the science for a deeper explanation

Our spinal cord includes 33 small bones, that overlap each other. But only 24 top most of them are mobile. And in between these bones, there are a total of 23 discs containing water within themselves. When you lie on your bed, your body will not be affected by gravity. And after a long course of 6 to 9 hours of your sleep, your discs will absorb water and then swell up.

For instance, if each of your discs was to grow to 0.078 inches due to this absorption process, you may wake up with almost 2 inches taller (though this effect is in no way usual). Then when you wake up and walk around during the day, the discs will compress again because of the pressure of gravity and the body pressure. That is when the water within the discs starts draining, making you turn back to the usual height.

Ways to get taller in the morning

Get hydrated

After a long night, the body is dehydrated. That is why you need to rehydrate it right after getting out of bed. Drinking a full glass of water on an empty stomach is essential in getting rid of toxins from the body as well as balancing the lymphatic system, thereby boosting immune health.

Do a stretch

Lying in the same position all night might tighten up your muscle. So, you need to do some simple stretches to awaken your muscles and let the blood flow through the body. Stretching also helps extend your muscle and keep your back in better shape, improving your vertical posture.

We will list down the top to-do stretches in the next part, so keep reading!

Have a bath

Like stretching, having a bath is a refreshing and comfortable way to wake up your body as well as lower muscle aches. Relying on that, you feel less strained throughout the day.

Have a healthy breakfast

Breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day to refuel your body and brain for the day ahead. It also controls hunger, lowering the craving for snacks during the day. But what foods make a hearty breakfast? Select the whole and unprocessed foods from each of the five food groups, including vegetables, fruits, protein foods, dairy, and grains.

Below are some good ideas for a balanced breakfast you should try.

• Oatmeal with fruits (blueberries) and chia or flax seeds
• Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana
• Whole wheat crepe with honey, fruits, and plain yogurt
• Whole wheat toast with sliced tomato and avocado, pesto, and egg

Take supplements

Supplementing necessary vitamins and minerals helps promote nutrient absorption, supporting your overall growth and development.

Expose yourself to the sun

Spending a couple of minutes outside and under the sun is a great way to help your body get enough vitamin D to support bone strength and growth.

Helpful stretches to kick-start your day

Corba stretch

Lie down on your belly and put your hands on the floor. Slowly raise your upper body while keeping your lower body on the bed. If you feel okay with this position, try to go a little deeper by raising your stomach off the bed. Maintain this stretch for 15 to 20 seconds and then slowly turn back to the starting position.

Knee-to-chest

Lie on your back, bring one knee to your chest and use your hands to keep it intact until feeling a nice stretch in the lower back. If you feel cozy, do this stretch by bending both knees at once.

Neck and shoulder stretch

Relax your shoulders and slowly move your head toward your left shoulder. It is okay to use your left arm to support and hold this stretch for 15 to 20 seconds. After that, repeat on the other side.

To carry out a shoulder stretch, reach one arm across the body and use the other arm to stretch. Keep this position for 15 to 20 seconds, and then repeat on the other side.

Side stretch

Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart and grab your hands tightly above your head. Slowly bend your body to one side until feeling a deep stretch along the side of your body. Keep this position for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Standing quad stretch

Stand straight with your feet hip-width apart and hold onto a chair or the wall, if possible. Reach back, touch your right foot with your right hand, and stretch. Make sure to keep your right leg in line with your hip and your thighs lined up next to each other. Hold this stretch for seconds and repeat with your left leg.

Final thoughts

The phenomenon of height increase in the morning is true and there are a couple of factors contributing to it. So, when understanding the science behind it and following the height-promoting ways above, we believe you can maximize your morning height gain.