Does coffee doesn't stunt growth

Question

The claim that coffee stunts your growth is a common myth, especially told to children or teens. However, according to several medical and scientific sources, there’s no solid evidence that coffee consumption affects height or growth in adolescents or adults. One reliable source is John Hopkins Medicine, which explains that while caffeine can temporarily interfere with calcium absorption, the effect is minimal and does not lead to stunted growth if you have a balanced diet. Here's a direct quote from them: “There’s no evidence that coffee or caffeine stunts a person’s growth. This myth probably began because caffeine can slightly reduce calcium absorption, but not nearly enough to affect growth.”

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-caffeine-question-myths-and-facts

Answer 1

The claim that coffee stunts growth is a long-standing myth, but credible research dispels this misconception.

The original article from The Roasterie, titled "Myth or Fact: Does Coffee Stunt Your Growth?", directly addresses the issue. It references Smithsonian Magazine, which clarifies that there is no evidence linking coffee consumption with stunted growth in children. Long-term studies on the effects of coffee on children are limited, primarily due to ethical concerns, but one study tracking 81 adolescents over six years found no correlation between daily caffeine intake and growth inhibition. Additionally, any minor decrease in calcium levels due to caffeine consumption is negligible and insufficient to impact growth.

The myth can be traced back to a 1933 advertising campaign by Postum, a caffeine-free coffee substitute, which falsely claimed that coffee had harmful effects like kidney and heart damage, as well as nerve poisoning. This marketing strategy contributed to the widespread belief that coffee should be avoided by children. Although Postum has long since fallen out of popularity, the myth surrounding coffee and growth has endured for decades.

Further support comes from the Mayo Clinic, which acknowledges some inconclusive research about coffee’s effects on bone density. However, even the Mayo Clinic concludes that moderate coffee consumption is generally "OK" and does have a direct correlation to children's lack of growth. 

There is no conclusive evidence that coffee stunts growth. While coffee may have some minor health implications, the claim that it impedes growth is a myth that has been thoroughly debunked.

Smithsonian Magazine: It's a Myth: There's No Evidence That Coffee Stunts Kids' Growth

1933 Postum Add: The Devious Ad Campaign That Convinced America Coffee Was Bad for Kids - The Atlantic

Mayo Clinic: Coffee and health: What does the research say? - Mayo Clinic

Answer 2

Agreed. Based on the research linked below, it is said that there is no scientific evidence that drinking coffee is linked to stunting your growth. There's a misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis which is a condition that relates to height loss. Most people tend to be done growing by your mid-teen years, and once your bone growth is complete, there is no reversing it. Linked below, this is a reliable source because they are known medical experts, and for 200 years had been known to be one of the most trusted sources of medical education. All published work is fact-checked and reviewed by an HMS physician or a faculty expert. 

 https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height). 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/about-us

Answer 3

Although most health experts advise against children under 12 years old drinking caffeine, “there is currently no scientific evidence to support that theory.” The consumption of coffee stunts growth. Suggesting your case is solid and that there is no medical evidence to indicate that the claim “coffee does not stunt growth” is valid. (MedicalNewsToday) The caffeine in coffee may lead to slightly slower absorption of calcium, which is essential for bone growth. However, most coffee drinkers do not have dire health problems due to coffee. In addition, many studies have failed to find any serious medical risks or diseases, including cancer and heart disease, associated with the consumption of coffee. Research has linked the consumption of coffee to several health benefits, including a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, abnormal heart rhythms, strokes, liver disease, especially liver cancer, and other medical risks. Caffeine can also briefly enhance athletic performance and promote weight loss. (Harvard Health Publishing) Some might encounter effects after consuming coffee, including insomnia, a jittery feeling, and a slight elevation in blood pressure. Executive coffee drinkers who drink up to six or more cups a day are associated with reduced fertility and miscarriages. Caffeine withdrawal is also a common cause of headaches, and higher consumption can lead to migraines and can worsen into heartburn. Although someone may cut out caffeine due to personal beliefs or reasons, the popular beverage does not stunt growth. 

Sources: ‹

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7177467/#B13-ijerph-17-02489 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-coffee-stunt-your-growth

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

 

Answer 4

Although it does sound like its true this is not true. There is no clear evidence that supports this claim, Harvard Health Publishing says there is a problem that all signals to usually when teens are able or allowed to drink coffee is around there adolescent years ranging from 15 to 17 years old which is usually when when teens have reached there full potential on their height. Another source claims there is no caffeinated drink that stunt growth. However coffee does indeed give certain stimulating effects which can disrupt sleep therefore affect the individual by nit producing the growth hormone which is released when sleeping so it could lead to that however its not the main factor or caffeine itself stunts growth.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/does-coffee-stunt-your-growth

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height).

Answer 5

This is a solid claim, however the available research does not support it. Caffeine is not all bad, it can be used to treat adhd symptoms as well as for attention performance & having neuroprotective effects. Your claim about calcium consumption is true, caffeine can stunt calcium absorbtion.  What you failed to mention was caffeine can also cause iron absorption deficiency, weight loss, and effects sleep schedule. All of these factors have been shown to stunt growth in children. The claim that there is no evidence for caffeine affecting growth is simply false.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/7/2489

"Its use among children is controversial. Although it produces an increase in brain activity, it could hamper growth and development in young consumers."

"The results obtained showed that caffeine consumption hampers children’s growth and development. In contrast, it supports the activation of the central nervous system and brain energy management."

"On one hand, the literature has shown evidence of alterations in children’s growth and development, such as iron absorption deficiencies and weight loss. On the other hand, the physical, mental, attention-performance, and neuroprotective effects of caffeine have been demonstrated. "

"On the other hand, the negative effects include changes in the sleep cycle, which could indirectly alter the weight and growth of children, and greater sensitivity to the alkaloid at an emotional level (anxiety and depression)."

Answer 6

According to the National Library of Medicine there is sufficient data to say that there's a correlation between caffeine consumption and decreases in growth. While there are various other mental benefits that can come from consuming coffee and caffeine, it can lead to issues and deficiencies when it comes to the body absorbing iron.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7177467/

Answer 7

The claim that coffee stunts growth is a myth not supported by scientific evidence. But, an early study showed that caffeine could possibly affect bone health. However, more modern research has shown that any impact of caffeine on calcium absorption is minimal.

Bone growth occurs during adolescence, a period when regular coffee consumption is uncommon. Therefore, it's unlikely that coffee intake during these years would affect final adult height. 

I read that coffee does affect sleep and causes an increased heart rate interfering with growing while sleeping. This is why health experts recommend limiting caffeine intake for younger people. 

Drinking coffee does not physically stunt growth. Concerns about height should focus more on overall nutrition and health during developmental years.

harvard health

Health line

Answer 8

False. There is no scientific evidence that coffee or caffeine intake affects height in adolescents or adults. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that although caffeine can slightly reduce calcium absorption, this effect is too small to impair bone growth when one maintains a balanced diet, stating, “There’s no evidence that coffee or caffeine stunts a person’s growth.” Likewise, the Cleveland Clinic confirms that caffeine does not meaningfully impact how tall a child gets and labels the growth-stunting idea as an old wives’ tale.

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-caffeine-question-myths-and-facts

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stunt-growth

Answer 9

There is no scientifically evidence that suggests that coffee can stunt a person's growth. Many make the claim that coffee causes osteoporosis, but that is completely false and proven, the other problem is that many people start drinking coffee when they are around their teen years, when most people have already reached their full height potential. Coffee does have a lot of benefits and some downsides as well, but height is not amongst those as far as we know.

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-and-nutrition/coffee-doesnt-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20evidence%20that,growth%20has%20never%20been%20proven.

Answer 10

Based on my research, it is clear that their is no strong evidence to prove that coffee stunts someone's growth. According to an article on Harvard Health Publishing, "There is no scientifically valid evidence to suggest that coffee can stunt a person's growth. This idea may have come from the misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis (a condition that may be associated with loss of height)." The article goes on to say that even if one does develop osteoporosis, it does not "routinely make you short."

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20scientifically%20valid,associated%20with%20loss%20of%20height). 

Another article by the Cleveland Clinic supports this claim, saying it is simply a myth and that there isn't any medical evidence that coffee stunts growth. They do mention two possibilities that could be attached this common myth. One being that caffeine is an appetite suppressant, but that doesn't nessicarily have significant impact on child growth. The second one being that caffeine may impact birth weight. "Some studies show that parents who are pregnant and consume caffeine give birth to lighter babies." However, neither of these possibilities proves that caffeine stunts growth.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stunt-growth