Skip to main content

Myth or Fact: Does Coffee Make You Short?

4 min read

By Chelsea Dolan

Medically Reviewed by Julie Ching, MS, RDN, CDE

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. In fact, the coffee market is worth over $80 billion in the U.S. alone. Given its impact, it makes sense why there are so many studies investigating the possible health concerns that come with drinking coffee.

One of the health concerns you might have heard about is that drinking coffee can stunt your growth. But as alarming as this sounds, does coffee make you short? Here’s what you should know.

 Does Coffee Really Stunt Your Growth?

The main ingredient in coffee is caffeine, a stimulant that’s known for waking people up and feeling alert. A longtime belief among the general population is that caffeine can stunt a person’s growth. The truth is, there’s no evidence to prove this claim.

Harvard Medical School says this idea comes from the misconception that coffee causes osteoporosis, a condition commonly associated with loss of height. But this has been debunked for two reasons: coffee does not cause osteoporosis, and osteoporosis does not routinely make you short.

Another problem with this myth is that most people are already fully grown by the time coffee becomes a regular part of their routine. Once bone growth is complete in our late teens and early 20s, it doesn’t just go away. Overall, there is no evidence to support that caffeine stunts growth.

Caffeine Does Have Its Consequences

While there is no direct evidence linking coffee to stunted growth, the tasty beverage does come with other concerns. One of those health concerns is disrupted sleep. Coffee is a go-to drink for millions of people when they need a quick pick-me-up, but this can interfere with sleep patterns.

According to Healthline, higher caffeine intake is associated with reduced sleep, disrupted sleep, and increased sleepiness during the day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says caffeine takes about half an hour to take effect and remains in the body for five hours or more.

This timeline is something to keep in mind the next time you’re thinking of picking up a late-night coffee.

Drinking Coffee Can Increase Your Sugar Intake

Creamer and sugar are popular ingredients people use to flavor their coffee. The bad news is this can lead to a higher sugar intake. Consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity and heart disease in adults, which is why it’s important not to overdo it.

According to the CDC, the leading source of added sugars is sugar-sweetened beverages. It’s recommended that American adults limit their intake of added sugars to less than 10-percent of their total daily calories. So next time you pour a cup of coffee, be mindful of how much sugar you’re mixing into it.

Research Links Coffee to More Health Problems

There is a lot of research on coffee and its impact on human health. While it’s not proven to make you shorter, Harvard Medical School says excessive coffee consumption has been associated with other health concerns. Some of them include:

What Is Considered a Safe Amount of Coffee?

There is such a thing as too much coffee. To avoid the negative effects of coffee, it’s important to know what exactly is a safe amount. Mayo Clinic says up to 400-milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day is safe for most healthy adults. This is roughly the amount of caffeine in 4-cups of brewed coffee.

Remember, caffeine is not just in coffee — it’s also found in soft drinks and energy drinks. Keep this in mind as you track your caffeine intake throughout the day.

The Benefits of Coffee

Although coffee has its drawbacks, you don’t have to give it up for good. John Hopkins Medicine lists some of the health benefits that come from drinking the right amount of coffee. Here are some ways coffee can have a positive impact on your body:

With this in mind, drink coffee in moderation and don’t consume more than 400-mg of caffeine per day. You can search online for healthy coffee recipes and be mindful of the ingredients mixed into drinks when you visit a coffee shop.

MS, RDN, CDCES

Julie Ching is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator in Los Angeles. She decided to become a Dietitian after traveling through Europe, South America, and Asia and discovered a passion for food. She now works with people of all ages and varying disease states to improve their health. She is passionate about teaching people about nutrition so they can live their best life while still considering their cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Diet and Nutrition News & Advice

Explore

Dietary Fibre Affects More Than Your Colon: How the Immune System, Brain and Overall Health Benefit Too
By Mark Wulczynski Diet and Nutrition News & Advice

Dietary Fibre Affects More Than Your Colon: How the Immune System, Brain and Overall Health Benefit Too

There’s no shortage of advice about what to eat, including hype about the latest superfoods that will help you live to 100, or about the newest restrictive diets that claim to help you lose weight and look beautiful. As a researcher from the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, I’m well aware that there is […]

Read More about Dietary Fibre Affects More Than Your Colon: How the Immune System, Brain and Overall Health Benefit Too

4 min read

What’s the Best Diet for Healthy Sleep? A Nutritional Epidemiologist Explains What Food Choices Will Help You Get More Restful Z’s
By Erica Jansen Diet and Nutrition News & Advice

What’s the Best Diet for Healthy Sleep? A Nutritional Epidemiologist Explains What Food Choices Will Help You Get More Restful Z’s

You probably already know that how you eat before bed affects your sleep. Maybe you’ve found yourself still lying awake at 2 a.m. after enjoying a cup of coffee with dessert. But did you know that your eating choices throughout the day may also affect your sleep at night? In fact, more and more evidence […]

Read More about What’s the Best Diet for Healthy Sleep? A Nutritional Epidemiologist Explains What Food Choices Will Help You Get More Restful Z’s

5 min read

Does an Apple a Day Really Keep the Doctor Away? A Nutritionist Explains the Science Behind ‘Functional’ Foods
By Janet Colson Diet and Nutrition News & Advice

Does an Apple a Day Really Keep the Doctor Away? A Nutritionist Explains the Science Behind ‘Functional’ Foods

We’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but how true is that? Apples are not high in vitamin A, nor are they beneficial for vision like carrots. They are not a great source of vitamin C and therefore don’t fight off colds as oranges do. However, apples contain various bioactive […]

Read More about Does an Apple a Day Really Keep the Doctor Away? A Nutritionist Explains the Science Behind ‘Functional’ Foods

6 min read