Gathered TableThe types of food you eat can significantly affect different functions of your body. Everything you consume has a direct connection to your physical characteristics and overall health. Genes may play an important role here, but the food you eat is also important. It means that you need to learn more about the type of food you eat.
One common worry among children and their parents is whether or not eating chocolate will stunt growth. After all, chocolate is often demonized as an unhealthy food. However, there is no evidence to support the claim that chocolate has any effect on human growth.
So, where did this myth originate? It’s likely due to the fact that chocolate contains caffeine. Caffeine can be harmful to developing bodies in large amounts, but the amount of caffeine in a single piece of chocolate is very small. Furthermore, most children do not consume enough chocolate for it to have any significant impact on their growth.
In conclusion, there is no need to worry about chocolate stunting your growth. You can enjoy this delicious treat without fear!
The Effect of Chocolate on The Body
Chocolate is a food that contains cacao beans, which are loaded with nutrients that can positively affect the body. These include magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, and potassium. The flavonoids in cacao can also improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. Chocolate also contains caffeine and theobromine, which are stimulants that can help to improve alertness and focus.
In moderate amounts, chocolate can be a healthy part of the diet. However, it is important to remember that chocolate is high in calories and fat, so it should be consumed in moderation. Eating too much chocolate can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
How Does Chocolate Affect Children’s Growth?
There is evidence to suggest that chocolate has a positive effect on children’s growth. Chocolate contains a number of essential nutrients, including calcium, iron, and magnesium, which are necessary for proper bone development.
In addition, chocolate contains antioxidants and other compounds that have been shown to promote healthy cell growth. Studies have shown that children who consume chocolate on a regular basis tend to have higher levels of growth hormone than those who do not eat chocolate regularly.
What Foods Can Stunt Your Growth?
Alcohol, corn, rice, soda, and soy are some of the foods that can make you short. There are excessive carbohydrates in rice and eating it alone can inhibit bone growth. On the other hand, soy can hinder the absorption of calcium. Meanwhile, soda contains high amounts of phosphorus that are not beneficial for bone growth.
Learn more about the different foods that can stunt your growth:
Alcohol
Yes, alcohol can stunt your growth and make you shorter while it is technically not food. Adults may experience stunted growth if they drink alcohol during their growth stage. It is important to ensure that your kids don’t consume alcohol because it also has a similar effect on them at higher rates.
Corn
Corn by itself without anything added to it doesn’t stunt growth. But once it develops mold, corn will produce aflatoxins, which is an agent that can stunt growth, specifically in kids. Corn can develop aflatoxins if you store it incorrectly in a warm and humid place.
Other types of cereals that can grow this mold include tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and chilis. This is why it is important that you keep all your cereals in a clean and dry environment to stop aflatoxins from developing.
Sugars and Ice Cream
Everyone knows that sugars are bad for your health. One of the common effects of the high consumption of sugary treats such as cookies, cakes, and ice cream is stunted bone growth.
This is why parents need to ensure that their kids don’t consume excessive amounts of sugary foods. Young ones often tend to go overboard with their sweets because they are unaware of the damage that they can do to them.
Studies have also revealed that children who consume high amounts of foods rich in sugar tend to be shorter compared to kids who don’t.
Junk Foods
Many people love munching on junk foods but unfortunately, they also have their own share of problems and challenges. It is not a secret that junk foods are never good for your body because they pose a risk of diabetes and obesity.
Another adverse effect of eating too much junk food is that it can stunt bone growth, specifically in kids. If children eat too many potato chips, it can affect the growth of their body in such a way that there is no growth in bones but more mass in the body. It results in the child becoming short and obese.
It means that junk foods should be avoided at all costs.
Rice
Even though many families across the world consume rice and it is considered safe to eat, it might also cause stunted growth.
If you eat excessive amounts of rice without other foods, you might end up taking too many carbs without vitamins and protein. It can automatically stunt growth, especially in kids.
The main issue here is when the body has too many carbohydrates. But you will be just fine if you take rice in a balanced manner together with proteins as well as other nutrients.
Soda
Soda is another drink that can stunt your growth. Soda has high amounts of phosphorus that can affect body growth. Phosphorus can slow down bone growth and affect bone density. Kids who consume excessive amounts of soda will also incur more calories in their bodies. The result is that they may end up suffering from stunted growth.
Soy
Soy is another food that can cause stunted growth. It inhibits the absorption of calcium in the body which can affect growth, specifically in kids. Calcium is responsible for bone growth that can add up to height. Different soy products including soy milk, tofu, and yogurt all contain phytic acid which is responsible for this particular effect.
Factors That Affect Human Height
Aside from food, other factors can also affect your growth and height. While you can control some of these factors, others might be beyond your control.
Gender
According to scientists, there is a difference in terms of height and growth between women and men. Studies have revealed that most of the time, men grow taller compared to women.
Genetics
Genetics is another factor that determines a person’s growth and height. It is responsible for over 80% of height characteristics in humans.
It means that even if you avoid the rest of the factors that can affect your height, you might still end up being short depending on your genes. No matter how much you try to avoid being short, there is no way for you to control your genetics.
Exercise
Yes, physical exercises can also directly impact your physical characteristics. This is why people who engage in exercise tend to have more say when it comes to the appearance of their bodies.
If your exercises focus on muscle and bone stretching, it increases your chance to grow tall. On the other hand, those who don’t exercise won’t grow as tall even if the rest of the factors are held constant.
Health Condition
Different health conditions can also have a significant effect on your bone growth rate. While it is common in kids, it can still affect young adults. Examples of these health conditions include delayed puberty, dwarfism, hypopituitarism, Russell-Silver syndrome, and Down syndrome.
Chocolate itself might not stunt your growth. However, diet is an important part of your growth and your body as a whole. Be sure to keep an eye on your diet and avoid foods that can make you shorter.
