Coffee Doesn’t Stunt Your Growth

A long time ago, studies suggested that coffee could cause osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to lose density, so a myth developed that coffee could stunt your growth. Later studies showed no clear link between coffee drinking and osteoporosis — it’s just that people who drank more coffee tended to not drink as many calcium-rich beverages such as milk, and lack of calcium can contribute to osteoporosis. However, osteoporosis itself doesn’t tend to make people shorter (although it’s associated with bone fractures that can). Nevertheless, the old wives’ tale persisted. If you have growing left to do, just make sure to eat a balanced diet and get all your vitamins and minerals.