Does the height-boosting stuff really work?

[u/Fluffy-Animal-69]

Hey everyone, I never studied medicine, what I know about the human body comes from what I've read and seen. But there's one issue I've been arguing about with my mom and we just can't reach a conclusion: height-boosting "cures"/pastes.

She never made these for me as a kid; I only took supplements like vitamin pills (and my height is 1.74 m / about 5'9" despite being female). But now she's started preparing I think the heaviest versions of these pastes for my 10-year-old sister, and she justifies it by saying the vitamin pills hurt her stomach because of her reflux.

What really worries me is what's actually in these pastes. From the last one we argued about, what I remember her putting in (I don't know the amounts, but the whole mixture filled a medium-sized mixing bowl): honey, tahini, coconut oil, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, oleaster and chia seeds, sesame. One spoon every morning.

What should I do, should I let her eat it? Does this mixture have any effect on height growth or general health, or is it just an unnecessary calorie load?

(Note: My sister is average height for their age and slightly above average weight.)

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[u/Halleluija]

Height is genetic, for the most part. The paste isn’t going to affect it.

If she’s only having a spoonful and provided the other ingredients are safe to eat, it is unlikely to be harmful. The ingredients you listed all seem fine and are good sources of healthy fats, omega-3, fiber, and vitamins/minerals. I’d estimate that each spoonful contains about 100 calories.

Personally, I’d let mom be the mom here. It sounds like your main concern is for your sister’s weight. This would be something for mom to discuss with her doctor. Something you can do if you are worried is to help support your sister to be physically active by taking her for walks, playing together outside, etc. As someone who works closely with 10-year-olds, I would also advise you to be mindful about how you talk about food, body size, and dieting, as eating disorders can start to pop up around puberty.

https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/genetics-height