Remember when you were a kid and your mother used to tell you that coffee would stunt your growth? Turns out that she was wrong. However, there are certain kinds of food that can slow your child’s growth if too much is consumed. Here is a list of foods you should be mindful about consuming if you want your child’s height to reach its full potential.
1. Junk food
There are so many reasons to cut junk food out of your children’s diet, and here’s one more. Junk food, as its name implies, have very little nutritional value, and does nothing but make your children’s stomachs full (and increase the risk of diabetes and obesity). Make sure that your child is only consuming a very limited amount of junk food.
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2. Soda
Carbonated drinks contain phosphorous, which is a useful mineral for development, but when consumed in large amounts can affect calcium levels. Studies have reported that kids who consume more phosphorous have lower bone density. The more kids consume unhealthy foods like soda and junk food, the less likely they would absorb the proper nutrients needed for healthy development. Limit soda consumption if you don’t want it to affect your child’s natural growth.
3. Rice
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Surprise! While rice by itself isn’t bad for your child, a high-carbohydrate and low-protein diet slow his/her growth. If your child’s plate has more carbs than protein, this will probably be a factor to stunting his/her growth. Remember, moderation is always key. Children who have a more balanced diet with both the sufficient amount of carbohydrates AND protein are more likely to achieve their full height.
4. Soy
Though it hasn’t been scientifically proven that soy stunts growth, unfermented soy like soy milk, yoghurt, and tofu contain phytic acid, which reduces calcium absorption. Calcium is vital for bone development, so consuming too much-unfermented soy can affect your child’s growth.
5. Alcohol
While we are sure you don’t feed your young-ones alcohol, this is still good to know, especially for older children. Studies suggest that alcohol consumption can stunt growth, but unfortunately, plenty of kids who are still growing consume alcohol. Make sure your kids know about the dangers of alcohol, and model good drinking behaviour.
6. Sugar
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Kids who consume a lot of sugar are usually shorter than kids who have low-sugar diets. Like carbohydrates, sugar raises your body’s insulin levels and prevents the body from proper growth. Though you shouldn’t ban your child from consuming sugary treats, make sure they do so moderately.
Note: We are not advocating to abstain from these food items completely, as some of these foods are crucial to your child’s development. Always be mindful that moderation is always key to healthy development.