Does Coffee Stunt Your Growth? Facts vs. Myths

This myth that coffee can stunt growth may have originated from the misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis, which is a condition that may be associated with loss of height.

However, the idea that coffee causes stunted growth due to osteoporosis is incorrect due to the following reasons:

• Coffee in moderation does not cause osteoporosis in individuals with no other comorbidities.
• Osteoporosis does not necessarily make a person short.

Though some lifestyle factors such as childhood nutrition and hormonal disorders can impact your height, it is mostly determined by your genes. Apart from genetics, certain factors that can affect your growth include:

• Poor nutrition: Poor nutrition due to improper diet or frequent sickness in infancy can cause height loss. Calcium and vitamins D and C play a key role in normal growth and development, and a deficiency in these nutrients can hinder growth.
• Hormonal disorders: Certain endocrine disorders can result in young adults being shorter than their peers. These include growth hormone deficiency, corticosteroid deficiency, and type I diabetes mellitus.
• Lack of sleep: Sleep is vital for developing bones, muscles, and other body tissues. Important growth-related hormones are released during sleep, so lack of sleep or frequent sleep disturbances can negatively impact growth and height.
• Other causes: Other causes of height loss include:
  • Osteoporosis with compression fractures
  • Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
  • Kyphosis (forward bending of the spine)
  • Childhood developmental abnormalities

Recommendations for different populations regarding daily coffee consumption are as follows:

• Adults: The safe limit for adults is 400 mg of caffeine per day (4-5 cups).
• Adolescents: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a limit of 100 mg a day.
• Pregnant women: The FDA recommends pregnant and breastfeeding women and those who are trying to get pregnant limit their caffeine intake to 300 mg per day.

Coffee contains beneficial components such as:

• Caffeine: Responsible for coffee’s stimulating effects.
• Chlorogenic acid: Acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from free radical damage.
• Diterpenes: Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Trigonelline: Lowers blood sugar levels and improves nerve damage associated with uncontrolled diabetes.

Studies have linked coffee consumption to several health benefits, including:

• Rich in antioxidants and can reduce the risk of diseases such as:
  • Type II diabetes
  • Liver disease
  • Gout
  • Stroke
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Certain cancers
• Enhances athletic performance
• Improves brain function
• Promotes weight loss (since caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant and boosts metabolism)

Coffee can cause insomnia or disrupt sleep, causing jitteriness and a temporary elevation in blood pressure in some people.

Although definitive studies have not been conducted, excessive coffee consumption (6 or more cups per day) has been associated with reduced fertility and miscarriage.

In addition, caffeine withdrawal is a common cause of headaches. High coffee intake can also trigger migraine headaches and worsen heartburn due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Some coffee beverages contain a significant amount of added sugar, which can contribute to health problems such as obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease.