Why the Dutch Grew 8 Inches Taller in a Century
A country's height is its collective nutrition report card
“Today, I’m testing a few theories I’ve had in my head for ages about why some countries tend to have taller people.”
Mr. Skeptical snaps back, “I predict they are going to be silly theories. Human height is based on genetics, end of story.”
“You sound like the medical industry, which is always quick to blame genetics for many diseases.”
Subconscious Fat at 30,000 feet
Height is more than just bones stretching upward—it’s a living record of nutrition across generations. When we zoom out, one pattern emerges with startling clarity: societies that eat more animal products—meat, milk, eggs, fish—tend to grow taller than those leaning heavily on grains, tubers, or plant staples.
This isn’t about “protein vs. carbs” in some diet-war meme. It’s about unlocking growth potential. Animal foods bring dense, bioavailable nutrients—like complete proteins, calcium, vitamin B12, heme iron—that directly fuel growth pathways. A population’s stature is akin to its collective nutritional report card.
Mr. Skeptical folds his arms and adds, “Or maybe tall people just like steak more. Ever think of that?”
I decide to ignore Mr. Skeptical’s silly remark.
“I’ve read books on how the Irish were often controlled and dominated by the British, and how they leaned on potatoes as a staple in their diets. So I thought the average Briton must be taller than the average person from Ireland.”
“Hermann, for your information, Leprechauns, which are traditionally Irish, aren’t real.”
I give him a dirty look, but bite my lip, for I’m about to reveal my theory was correct. “Not now, but back in the 19th century, Irish diets leaned on potatoes; British diets included more beef, dairy, and fish. Not surprisingly, British heights tended to outpace Irish averages (Komlos, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 1993).
“Across cultures, the pattern repeats: more animal products = taller populations.”
Subconscious Fat at 10,000 feet
I’ve mentioned before how Hong Kongers tend to live longer because they eat a lot of meat. However, beyond that, compared to mainland China, Hong Kong men average ~175 cm (5’9”), while mainland men average ~171 cm (5’7”). Same genetics, different diets. Hong Kong adopted Western food systems earlier, characterized by higher consumption of animal protein and dairy (Mak et al., Economics & Human Biology, 2017).
Mr. Skeptical raises his hands, “Hold on, wasn’t Bruce Lee from Hong Kong? He was short.”
My eyes roll. “Bruce Lee was actually born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong, and his parents were from southern China. And even if he was as tall as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that doesn’t matter because that would make him an exception, not the average.”
Subconscious Fat at Eye-Level
The biggest surprise in my research on how diet affects height came from the Netherlands. The Dutch didn’t used to be towering. A century ago, they were average Europeans in height. Fast-forward through decades of prosperity, a dairy-soaked diet, and abundant meat, and they now lead the global height charts. Nutrition, not DNA, explains why Dutch men average over six feet tall today.
That’s nearly a 20 cm (8 inch) increase since the mid-1800s—one of the fastest, most dramatic population-level changes in recorded history. Most researchers attribute this growth spurt to better nutrition (especially increased dairy and meat consumption), reduced inequality, and improved public health.
Mr. Skeptical adds, “So basically, Dutch people didn’t evolve—they just discovered cheese and stopped getting rickets. Truly inspiring.”
Practical Suggestions and Conclusions
So what does this mean today?
“Last night I met with a couple who have two twin girls, only a few months old. They showed me pictures, and the girls were so cute.”
Mr. Skeptical, with an irritated face, asks, “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I wanted to tell them to please feed the twins meat as soon as possible, if they haven’t already. Growth depends on total calories and nutrient density. Animal products make hitting both easier. Dairy remains strongly linked to adolescent growth spurts (Hoppe et al., Journal of Nutrition, 2006). However, they may have thought I was nuts if I suggested raw dairy.”
“You are nuts. Raw dairy in Florida is only legal when fed to animals. You should’ve just told them to open a dairy farm in the living room.”
My jaw tenses as I glare at Mr. Skeptical. But I did have an urge to say something about the twins, for height is the story the body tells about its environment. And for the Dutch—and many others—that story is written in milk, meat, and prosperity.
Be aware.
Other links related to this post:
Raw Milk: Is it Safe?
Is It True that Humans Were Taller?
Omnivores Survive, But Carnivores Thrive PS Links on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Notes. Full disclosure: ChatGPT was used to research and enhance this post.
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