You probably already know that tall people have an advantage in modern society. They’re more attractive to potential partners, and they have an advantage in the job market. The very design of the everyday world often seems to favor the tall.
If you aren’t quite as tall as you would like to be, you may have explored ways to increase your height. One program that claims to able to accomplish this is Jason Alessandrini’s “5 Inch Height Gain.” The system promises to help you gain from 3 to 5 inches in 12 weeks through a regimen of diet, exercise and behavioral changes.
What, Exactly, Is the “5 Inch Height Gain” Program?
The system is presented in a downloadable e-book that’s available from the company’s website. Once you’ve paid for the product, you’ll have immediate access through any compatible device, like your phone or tablet.
The book consists of 13 chapters that focus on specific aspects of the program. The chapters are short and easy to understand, so they can be read quickly. The information tends to be action-based rather than theoretical. The general topics include the following.
- Nutrition.
- Sleep.
- Posture.
- Introductory exercises.
- Targeted exercises.
- Advanced exercises.
- Quick tips.
Alessandrini presents his system as a natural way to increase your height. It’s intended to be easy and to fit into anyone’s lifestyle. He claims that it’s completely safe for people of all ages.
You aren’t required to buy any additional products from the company beyond the book itself. You will probably have to pick up a few things on your own, though.
You’ll need a pull-up bar or similar device that you can hang from. You will probably also have to pick up some nutritional supplements, unless you happen to already have on hand what the program recommends.
This system comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. The problem with that is that the program lasts 12 weeks. There’s a chance you’ll get caught in a situation where you don’t want to complain about your results until you’ve completed the program. By then, it will be too late.
Solid Facts & Swirling Myths
This program points out the factors that influence your height, then presents what it asserts are the three biggest myths about the subject.
The facts presented are generally in line with accepted scientific thought. The myths are certainly untrue, but whether they’re the three biggest myths on the subject is probably open to debate.
The biggest factor that affects your height is, of course, genetics. Your genes determine your maximum growth, although environmental factors can cause your growth to be stunted. Since you can’t pick your parents, you’re stuck with whatever genetic roll of the dice coded for your height.
On the other hand, genes also code for the amount of a hormone your body produces. It’s called human growth hormone. HGH affects your height, overall body growth, and development. The “5 Inch Height Gain” program claims to naturally stimulate your body’s production of HGH to reap the full benefits of its effects.
Alessandrini’s book also addresses the impact of nutrition on height. General malnutrition or specific lack of certain vitamins and minerals can affect a child’s growth, and this carries over into adulthood. He also seems to assert that improving your nutrition as an adult can help you become taller.
Moving on to the three biggest myths, the author lists as the first myth that you can’t change your adult height. Of course, the whole point of his system is to demonstrate that that isn’t true.
The second myth is that there are pills or supplements out there that can produce instant results. Since “5 Inch Height Gain” does suggest the use of supplements, the author focuses instead on the second part of the myth. He doesn’t promise instant results; the program is 12 weeks long.
The third myth is that working out stunts your growth. This myth is based on the false idea that working out with weights will compress your joints and make you shorter. Alessandrini argues just the opposite, asserting that exercise stimulates growth.
Nobody Told Me There Would Be Cocktails
Nutrition is one of the main components of “5 Inch Height Gain.” Before you even start, you’re supposed to evaluate your nutritional state and make improvements. The program takes the position that your body needs to have access to essential nutrients to be able to respond to the work you’ll be doing to increase your height.
This program also claims that there are specific foods that cause an enormous jump in the amount of HGH your body produces. These minerals and herbs are combined into a “secret cocktail” that’s supposed to make you taller over the course of the 12 weeks.
The book explains why each ingredient is in the cocktail and what that ingredient does. It’s definitely a “plus” that the author doesn’t expect you to just take his recommendations on faith. If he wants you to take something that may have an effect on your health, it’s appropriate that he should give you all the information.
In reality, even if the cocktail does increase the HGH that your body produces, its effect on your height will be heavily dependent on your age. If you’re old enough that your bones have stopped growing, more HGH isn’t likely to make you taller. At most, it may plump the discs in your spine.
It Works While You Sleep
Restful sleep is important for overall well-being, but it’s also true that some degree of spinal decompression occurs when you sleep. This is a natural result of being horizontal and getting a break from gravity. It’s typical for most people to be about an inch taller in the morning.
This system attempts to build on this natural process. You’re given techniques that are intended to maximize the decompression and make it more pronounced and long-lasting.
“Stand Up Straight” Still Applies
Modern life at a desk may be making you slouch and slump, directing your height forward rather than up. Correcting your posture is a key component of “5 Inch Height Gain.”
Consciously lengthening your spine will make you appear taller when you’re sitting or standing. If you can make this change a natural part of your bearing, you’ll get the benefits without having to think about it. This is the goal of the techniques you’ll be taught in this book.
The author takes this premise a step further, and it may be a step too far. He asserts that bad posture negatively impacts your growth, and that straightening up not only makes you look taller, but it can make you grow taller. You may want to evaluate this argument.
You Knew There Was Going to Be Exercise
Movement is the biggest component of this program. There is an exercise regimen that’s intended to decompress your spine and lengthen and stretch your ligaments and tendons.
The exercises are fairly simple, and they seem to be clearly explained in the book. You will have to be prepared to carve out time over the course of the day. Some stages of the program require two 15-minute sessions per day.
There’s no doubt that decompressing your spine adds height. When your vertebrae spread apart, your body will naturally lengthen. The variables are what the extent of the lengthening is and how long it lasts.
The second goal of the program’s exercise regimen is to stimulate your body to produce more HGH.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
The final piece of the “5 Inch Height Gain” system teaches you to employ various techniques to look taller, even at your present height. There’s no claim that these techniques actually make you taller, they just make you look taller.
If you’re concerned about your height, you’re probably already familiar with some of these techniques. Some of them are more unusual, though, and maybe new to you. These are things that you can begin to work on immediately since they don’t rely on the cumulative effect of the 12-week time frame.
This portion of the book will likely be helpful to everyone who’s concerned about their height, regardless of the rest of the program.
Pros and Cons
The positive aspects of the “5 Inch Height Gain” program include the following points.
- The book is a download, so you can start right away.
- The chapters are short and easily digestible.
- There are no expensive add-ons that you’re required to buy from the company.
- The program works for people of any age and gender.
- The step-by-step presentation is easy to follow.
- There’s no downside to eating better and exercising.
There are a few aspects of this program that may give you pause.
- The potential for nutrition to increase your height in adulthood may be overstated.
- The height gains due to spinal decompression may decrease over the course of the day.
- The promised gain of 3 to 5 inches is probably not realistic for most people.
- The 60-day guarantee runs out before you’ve finished the program.
Pulling It All Together
People who are looking for a program to make them taller will find that some aspects of “5 Inch Height Gain” will probably be effective, but some will not. If you’re young enough that you’re still growing, good nutrition will support your growth. A boost of HGH may also help, but if this program raises your levels as high as it claims, you should probably check with a doctor first.
If you’re an adult, eating well is a great plan, but it’s doubtful that it will make you taller in 12 weeks. HGH can have benefits for older people, too, but it can’t make you start to grow again. You’ll probably be more satisfied with the results of the parts of the program that aren’t based on nutrition, like sleep, posture and exercise.
It’s well known that spinal decompression occurs during sleep, so if you can enhance that, you will wake up a bit taller. It’s also inarguable that correcting your posture will almost assuredly make you appear taller and more commanding.
To the extent that the exercises also produce spinal decompression, you may see positive results from them. Of course, it’s never a bad idea to exercise, even if you don’t get taller.
The tips for looking taller are sound. Just knowing that you look taller to others can boost your confidence, and positive things can flow from that.
There is also an interesting section at the very end of the book that discusses scams. It reveals some of the more popular growth-promoting offers and cautions you against them. The author seems particularly unsympathetic to the marketers of pills that promise “overnight” growth.
Conclusion
This book presents the material well. You’ll likely find it easy to read and understand. The exercises are illustrated with pictures, so you’ll be sure you’re performing them correctly.
Overall, you’ll have to weigh the costs and benefits of this book for yourself. If you’re willing to commit to a few dietary changes and exercises, and you’re willing to work on your posture and make adjustments to your sleep habits, it may be a good choice.
