Erika Gina
Let’s get one thing straight: calf raises won’t make you taller. It’s one of those fitness rumors that just refuses to die—like the idea that stretching alone can unlock inches overnight. What’s really happening here is a confusion between muscle growth and bone growth. Calf raises work your calf muscles—specifically the gastrocnemius and soleus—but they …
Let’s get straight to it—naps can absolutely support your height growth, especially if you’re in your teens or still developing. This isn’t wishful thinking or another internet myth. It’s physiology. When you sleep—really sleep, not just close your eyes and scroll your phone—the pituitary gland kicks in, releasing growth hormone (aka somatotropin). This hormone is …
Turning 16 often feels like a tipping point—especially when you’re wondering “Can I still grow taller?” The short answer? Yes, but it depends. At this stage, your body’s growth process is closely tied to what’s happening in your epiphyseal plates (the soft zones at the ends of your long bones). These growth plates don’t close …
Stretching won’t make your bones longer—but it can make you look and feel taller. Most of the people I’ve worked with over the last two decades didn’t realize they were losing up to 2 cm of their height during the day—just from spine compression. Daily stretching helps counter this. By loosening tight muscles, correcting posture, …
At some point, we’ve all heard someone swear that doing the splits every day “made them taller.” You’ll find this claim floating around in YouTube comments, fitness forums, and even some trendy stretching apps. It sounds like a quick win, especially if you’re in your teens and trying to squeeze out every last inch of …
Volleyball might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of getting taller — but maybe it should be. During adolescence, your body is going through some of its most dramatic physical changes. Growth plates are still open, the endocrine system is firing on all cylinders, and the right kind of …
We’ve all heard it growing up—“Get some sleep, or you won’t grow!” But how much truth is packed into that old line? As someone who’s spent over two decades dissecting what’s real and what’s hype when it comes to natural growth, I can tell you: there’s more to this than meets the eye. Sleep isn’t …
There’s a long-standing belief that apples might help you grow taller. You’ve probably heard it from a relative, seen it on health blogs, or read it in one of those “superfood for growth” lists. The idea sounds simple: eat an apple a day, and your height might benefit. But here’s the real question—is there any …
Growing taller isn’t something most people think about until they realize—it might be over. From childhood through the end of puberty, the human body goes through a set pattern of growth phases, but it’s not always obvious when the final stretch ends. Whether you’re 17 or 22, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Am I done growing …
You’ve probably heard it before: “Play sports and you’ll grow taller.” Sounds simple, right? But when it comes to tennis and height growth, the answer isn’t just black and white. After two decades around coaches, athletes, and more than a few so-called growth “experts,” I can tell you this: tennis won’t turn you into a …