HOW TO INCREASE YOUR HEIGHT FAST

Height is determined by genetics and everyone grows at different rates. The average height for women in the United States is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall -- for men it's roughly 5 feet, 10 inches tall, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. If you're unsatisfied with your height, there are steps you can take to enhance growth. There are also ways to appear taller without increasing height, which involve less drastic methods.

Step 1

Eat a healthy diet so that your body gets all the nutrients you need to grow. Make sure your diet is rich in lean protein, leafy green vegetables and fruits to ensure you get all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Step 2

Try pilates or yoga. Pilates and yoga classes focus on posture, which increases your height. Standing or sitting straighter with your stomach pulled in and your shoulders down can add a few inches to your height. Incorporate cardiovascular exercise to burn calories and lose weight. Losing weight makes you appear leaner and taller.

Step 3

Shop for shoes that enhance your height. Many women's shoes offer heels that can add several inches to your height. If you're looking for men's shoes, you can purchase inserts or buy shoes with discrete platforms such as WalkTall shoes, which can be found online. You can also appear taller by wearing the right clothes. Wear clothing with vertical stripes and avoid horizontal stripes.

Step 4

Talk to your doctor about hormone treatment. Injecting growth hormones is a more extreme way to increase your height and is most commonly used in children with dwarfism.

Step 5

Undergo limb lengthening surgery. Limb lengthening is a drastic process in which the surgeon divides a limb bone into two bones and then puts metal scaffolding between the bones. The two bone pieces then grow back together to make a longer bone. This is also used for people with dwarfism.