Does protein make you grow taller?

What is the role of protein in child development?

Along with carbs and fats, protein is the most necessary macronutrient for optimum health. Because it helps assist with tissue repair and growth, boosts lean muscle growth, and keeps your kids’ immunity strong. Protein also contributes to the production of enzymes, red blood cells, and hormones. That’s why every tissue and cell needs this nutrient to function properly.

So, does protein make you grow taller?

Before giving a clear answer, let’s dive into some available evidence below!

Research pointed out that increased growth and weight in childhood are directly connected to increased protein intake as a young child [1]. A 2014 study found that young men from 45 countries in Europe who ate high-quality proteins from milk, pork, and fish had a big effect on height [2].

It seems like protein might help you get taller but do not get too excited about it.

Because genetics still play a role in determining our height, and there is plenty of random variation you cannot control. Even if you do everything right, you might not be certain about what happens in the end. So, if you think that protein is a magical potion that can help you grow taller overnight, you might be wrong. Above all, there is not enough evidence to affirm that protein supplementation alone can boost your height.

On top of that, the research covered here about nutrition mainly adapts during childhood. In other words, having sufficient nutrition with necessary nutrients (protein, calcium, vitamins, etc.) as a child is much more important than only focusing on one or two nutrients.

How much protein should children have a day?

Each kid is unique, so it might be hard to know the exact amount of feeding them, especially putting “grams” into food. The table below is just to give the recommended context and information, which is a good starting point.

One ounce of a protein-rich food often offers about 7 grams of protein. An ounce is equal to:

• 1 large egg
• 1 ounce of meat, fish, or poultry
• ¼ cup cooked lentils or beans
• ¼ cup tofu
• 1 tbsp peanut butter

Continue checking up the second table to see how much protein a serving of each food delivers and how it compares to your children’s daily protein requirement.

But note that these serving sizes are not based on needs. For instance, this table does not affirm that a child between 4 and 8 should eat 3 ounces of chicken or 1 tbsp of peanut butter. Rather, these are just reference amounts to give a sense of how much protein these foods provide.

Tips to add more protein to your children’s diet

Get creative with milk

Milk is good, yet not all kids are fans. So, you need to be creative and cover milk by mixing it into other foods. For example:

• Mix milk and a beaten egg, then soak whole-grain bread and fry in a little butter to make yummy French toast. 
• Whip up a smoothie with milk, fresh or frozen fruits, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
• Make homemade pudding with milk.
• Make tomato soup with milk and serve with whole-grain crackers.

Shape up

Try shaping up cheese and meat in different ways, such as cutting string cheese, making baby meatballs, or doing kebab skewers. Instead of cooking the typical burger, try tiny sliders and pop them into slider buns. Then serve with ketchup to wake up your kid’s appetite.

Get cultured

Try making a sweet and colorful parfait with Greek yogurt (it contains twice as much protein as regular yogurt). All you just do is add cut-up fresh fruit to a parfait dish and top it off with yogurt and cereals.

Or top Greek yogurt and grated cheddar cheese for baked potatoes. Or use yogurt in place of milk when making pancake batter as well as other recipes that require sour cream.

Add more fish

Salmon, flounder, pollack, and tilapia are mild and flaky varieties. Cut a filet into small chunks and coat with bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Then drizzle with olive oil and bake for about 10 minutes at 4000F. 

Or opt for canned chunk-light tuna from a can or pouch to make tuna salad with light mayo and finely chopped celery and carrots.

But before you go…

If your children are not getting enough nutrition, especially protein, from their diet alone, you should talk with your healthcare provider about using nutritional shakes, such as NuBest Tall Protein.

FIY, NuBest Tall Protein is here to support your child’s growth by delivering over 20+ key nutrients to help support height growth, immunity, digestion, and much more. It is easy to use with just one scoop per day and you can mix it in milk, smoothies, etc. It also offers two delicious flavors, including Chocolate and Vanilla (suitable for plant-based eaters).

Remember that this is just a dietary supplement, not a replacement for any protein food. As parents, you need to combine it with a healthy and balanced diet, as well as encourage your children to engage in regular physical activities and get enough sleep to optimize their growth and health.

Final words,

There is no denying that genetics always plays a role in determining our height, and we cannot control it. However, we have the power to nurture our growth through lifestyle choices, exercises, nutrition, and supplements. That means you need to follow a balanced diet (including protein, calcium, vitamins, etc.), exercise frequently, get enough rest, and take protein supplements (if necessary) to help the body reach its full potential.

• Related post: Does Tennis Make You Taller?