Fact Check: Can consuming makhana, khas khas and desi ghee powder with milk increase height of kids?

An Instagram reel claims that makhana (foxnuts), khas khas (poppy seeds) and desi ghee (clarified butter) powder with milk increases height. The claim by the user is FALSE.

Claim

An Instagram reel claims that makhana, khas khas and desi ghee powder with milk increases height. The user doctorupasanavohra in the reel says, "For all the kids who want to increase their height and want to build strength in their body,  you have to take 100 grams of makhana and 50 grams of khas khas — khas khas are small seeds. Now, what you have to do is roast them lightly in desi ghee. After that, you have to grind them into a powder and keep it. Take one spoon either in the morning and evening, or once a day with a glass of milk. This is for those whose height is not increasing and those who want to gain weight. It is comfortable for everyone."

The reel is accessible here. 

Fact Check

The claim is FALSE. While makhana, poppy seeds, desi ghee, and milk are nutritious and support overall health, no scientific evidence or medical consensus suggests that they can increase height. Height is primarily determined by genetics, with nutrition, physical activity, and hormonal balance playing supporting roles, especially during the growth years.

What factors contribute to height growth and development?

Height growth is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, exercise, sleep, diet, and hormonal regulation. However, once the growth plates in bones (epiphyseal plates) close, further bone growth is no longer possible after the body's natural growth phase ends. Exercise significantly promotes height development by stimulating growth hormone (GH) secretion. Adequate sleep contributes to growth by boosting GH release and preventing obesity. Balanced nutrition ensures proper growth, whereas childhood obesity is associated with disrupted growth and earlier puberty. GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) critically regulate height, with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) stabilizing IGF-1 activity. IGF-1 levels peak during puberty (Tanner stages III-IV), facilitating rapid growth, then gradually decline. However, height increase ceases permanently after puberty when bone growth plates fuse.

What are the nutritional benefits of makhana (foxnuts), khas khas (poppy seeds), desi ghee (clarified butter) and Milk?

Makhana is a highly nutritious snack, rich in carbohydrates mainly as fine starch granules, and contains 10-12% protein with a high essential amino acid index. It is low in fat and calories, making it suitable for low-fat diets. Additionally, makhana is a good source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Its perisperm is the edible part, offering easily digestible nutrients. The presence of micronutrient-rich content and high-quality protein makes it a valuable food choice for balanced nutrition and healthy snacking.

Poppy seeds offer numerous health benefits due to their rich nutritional profile, including proteins, dietary fiber, antioxidants, tocopherols, and essential micronutrients. They are valued for their bioactive compounds—such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and polyunsaturated fatty acids—which contribute to potential health benefits like regulating blood pressure, relieving pain, and possibly reducing cancer risk. Poppyseed oil is particularly beneficial for heart health due to its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, poppy seeds are widely used in culinary applications, making them a versatile functional food ingredient with potential nutraceutical properties. Further exploration may reveal additional health advantages.

Ghee provides notable nutritional advantages owing to its unique composition and nutrient content. Derived from milk, cream, or butter by eliminating nearly all water and milk solids, ghee is composed of approximately 99.5% fat with minimal moisture content. It is an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for maintaining healthy vision, strong bones, robust immune responses, and proper blood clotting. Furthermore, ghee contains phospholipids that play a vital role in maintaining cellular structure and function.

Milk is a highly nutritious food, providing energy and complete proteins along with a variety of vital micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus in forms that are readily absorbed by the body. The minerals found in milk are essential for overall health and growth. They significantly contribute to proper nutrition and development at every stage of life. Additionally, milk is abundant in key nutrients necessary for maintaining strong bones, including calcium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus.

Can makhana, khas khas and desi ghee powder with milk increase height?

There is no scientific evidence that consuming makhana (fox nuts), khas khas (poppy seeds), and desi ghee powder with milk directly increases height. While these ingredients provide nutritional benefits, height is primarily determined by genetics, hormones, and overall nutrition, especially during growth years.

Makhana also known as foxnuts is widely recognized for its nutritional and therapeutic value. The study by Rahul Vishnu Rathod et. al. identified foxnuts as a valuable traditional remedy for managing ailments related to the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems. Given its abundance and richness in natural antioxidants, makhana presents significant potential for application in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Poppy seeds are known for their nutritional properties, offering health benefits that support bone health and digestive function. According to Sk. Kaleem Basha et. al., the study found that poppy seeds contribute to bone strengthening due to their high calcium content. Additionally, their richness in insoluble dietary fiber plays a key role in preventing constipation and promoting healthy digestion.

Ghee, a form of clarified butter widely used in traditional cuisines, is renowned for its health-promoting properties. A study conducted by Anil Kumar and colleagues underscored ghee’s rich composition of short-chain fatty acids, which enhance its digestibility and may offer anti-cancer benefits. The research also highlighted ghee's effectiveness in delivering fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) along with essential fatty acids like linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.

Milk is a nutrient-dense food that supports overall health, particularly bone development and maintenance In her study, Hanna Górska-Warsewicz et. al. found that milk serves as an excellent source of energy and high-quality protein, providing a wide array of essential micronutrients—such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus—in a highly bioavailable form. The study emphasized milk’s vital role in promoting bone health due to its richness in calcium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus.

Although makhana, khus khus, desi ghee, and milk are nutritious, there is no scientific backing or medical agreement that they can boost height.

Responding to the claim Dr Pallavi Gupta, Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, ESIC Hospital said, "Height growth is a common concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. Recently, claims have been circulating that consuming a mixture of makhana (fox nuts), khas khas (poppy seeds), and desi ghee powder with milk can significantly increase height. However, this claim is false and lacks scientific backing.

Height is primarily determined by genetics. Studies estimate that about 60-80% of a person’s final height is influenced by genetic factors, specifically parental height and genetic coding. The remaining percentage may be influenced by external factors such as nutrition, hormonal balance, physical activity, and general health during the growing years, particularly before the closure of growth plates (epiphyseal plates) around the age of 18-21.

While makhana, khas khas, and desi ghee are nutritious—offering healthy fats, calcium, and proteins—they cannot override genetic predisposition or reopen growth plates once they are fused. There is no clinical evidence suggesting that consuming these ingredients together with milk can stimulate growth hormones or elongate bones in adults or adolescents beyond their natural potential.

For optimal growth during childhood and adolescence, a balanced diet rich in proteins, calcium, vitamins D and C, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep are important. Once puberty ends and growth plates close, height increase through diet or supplements becomes biologically impossible.

Also, it is important to note that short height can be physiological and pathological where physiological can be due to familial short stature or due to delayed puberty whereas pathological causes are multiple and not only diet-related"

Further, Dr Sabina Vij, Pediatrician, Vij Clinic, Greater Kailash said. "If height and weight could increase with makhana and khus khus and milk powder, we all would be tall. No one would remain short. Height of a child depends on his / her genetic makeup up and epigenetics, protein and diet intake and the level of physical activity throughout childhood. So think about it before falling prey to the food fads. Visit your pediatrician regularly for weight and height monitoring and for guidance."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

While makhana, khas khas, desi ghee, and milk are nutritious and contribute positively to overall health and bone strength, there is no credible scientific evidence supporting the claim that consuming these can increase height. Height potential is mostly genetic and influenced by hormones, nutrition during growth periods, physical activity, and adequate sleep.

Hence, the user's claim is FALSE.