A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that many US adolescents are lacking nutrients essential to bone growth. Now, a nutrition startup is aiming to address this crisis with a line of capsules, gummies, and protein powders containing essential herbs and nutrients that kids and teens alike need to stay healthy and mitigate — or outright avoid — growth deficiencies.
“We started TruHeight as a way to bring comprehensive and convenient nutrition to kids and teens who want to grow to their full height potential,” says one of the company’s founders. Both creators of TruHeight speak to the experience of being shorter than their peers and dealing with growth deficiencies from childhood through adulthood. Consulting with a number of doctors and specialists to understand growth deficiency, the team developed a list of essential nutrients that most young Americans are under-consuming.
“An astounding 70% of US adolescents are lacking nutrients essential to bone growth,” says the TruHeight team. “Our mission is to provide these nutrients while also educating on the lifestyle and practices needed to grow tall and healthy.”
Each TruHeight vitamin supplement aids in sleep, diet, and other factors that can help children’s growth and physical development, as well as help prevent obesity and depression. The team also launched a protein shake earlier this month on November 11th.
Research shows that about 60 to 80 percent of the difference in height between individuals is determined by genetic factors, whereas 20 to 40 percent can be attributed to nutrition and sleep. The team at TruHeight says that, although people may think it’s impossible to “grow”‘ your height, TruHeight’s science is sound, and customers are already sharing testimonials to that effect on its website.
“Our supplement was developed and formulated after researching a large range of medical studies,” the team remarks. “Our team of scientists and doctors take a scientifically rigorous approach to research and the use of potent natural ingredients in our products.”
TruHeight’s manufacturers are NSF and GMP certified. All of their products are made in the USA, and each ingredient is meticulously third-party tested to ensure purity and effectiveness. As to what, exactly, is in a TruHeight capsule, the company lists four primary, scientifically proven ingredients:
1. Calcium
Calcium has long been associated with natural bone growth and density development. It is also an essential part of any healthy diet, but TruHeight goes a step further, using an ingredient called Calcium Citrate, which has a greater absorption capacity compared with the calcium found in most supplements. The result, the company says, is an increase in the speed of bone growth.
2. Collagen
Many probably think of collagen as something that older people take for cosmetic purposes, such as restoring thinning lips, but the team at TruHeight stresses that young people need it, too. “Collagen is actually a protein that represents more than 90% of bones, which is why it is such a vital nutrient,” TruHeight’s team explains. “The addition of collagen to our supplement helps to improve bone density and maintain bone strength.”
3. Vitamin D
Like calcium, Vitamin D is also essential for building strong bones and muscles. The most natural way to get it is prolonged exposure to sunlight, yet many kids aren’t getting enough these days because they spend too much time indoors — especially after the pandemic began in 2020. Without Vitamin D, however, young bodies cannot effectively absorb calcium, which is essential to bone growth and development.
4. Ashwagandha
By far the least commonly-known ingredient in TruHeight’s formula, Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that improves sleep quality and reduces stress. Both are equally important qualities, as proper sleep and lower stress levels help the body grow in a healthy, natural way. A good night’s sleep can also help prevent obesity and depression, both in children and adolescents. Being fit and feeling positive is essential to developing active lifestyles that promote growth and healthy bone development long into adulthood.
The creators note that all of TruHeight’s ingredients have been shown to be safe in researched studies, and its products are manufactured locally in the US. To date, the company says that it has not received any reports of adverse side effects.
“We probably won’t [receive reports like these] because TruHeight is an all-natural blend of herbs and vitamins,” one of the company’s founders notes. “Our products don’t contain any stimulants, HGH, or steroids.”
For younger kids, the company recommends dissolving capsules into water or a nutritious smoothie, but it also offers chewable gummies and also a protein shake. Typically, customers can expect to see results between 3-6 months after adding TruHeight to their diet. It will work for any gender, and no prescription is needed.
With depression, self-esteem and bullying still prevalent among adolescents, TruHeight’s purpose is to help young people feel confident by achieving their full developmental potential.
“We believe that when you take charge of your health and your growth, you also grow in other ways: in confidence, inner strength, and in feeling more empowered to help others around you grow too,” TruHeight’s founders observe. “Not growing as fast as our classmates is stressful and scary. We experienced that ourselves. We tried conventional treatments, but we wanted a natural way to take control of our growth, so we made one.”
