What your forehead says about your health…
I’ll never forget the day I wore my hair pulled back with a headband and someone I was with called me out for having a big forehead.
I had been self-conscious about it before, but that day made me feel ultra self-conscious moving forward. Being an ever-changing hairstyle person I thought... should I cut bangs again???
And then my previous bang self said… remember last time you swore you’d never cut these again… You are NOT JESS… So I needed to just deal with having a larger forehead and not let this dumb unkind comment define who I was!!!
But I did let it tell me some information about my body. I had heard some information about larger foreheads at a recent conference and thought its time to dive into this concept to see what truth it holds.
At the time, I had no idea how insightful my forehead would be about my health.
Sometimes what we take for granted or hate most about our bodies can hold the most valuable clues about our health.
For example, the extra weight you might have put on around the middle can be a big clue for blood sugar imbalances, toxic exposures, chronic stress, and cortisol hormone dysfunction.
Or weight gain in your “lady parts” (aka breast, hips, and butt) strongly correlates with excess estrogen circulating in the body, which can be true for both women and men.
And early signs of gray hair is linked to high stress and low levels of glutathione in the body, which is the body’s master antioxidant and detoxification nutrient.
When it comes to your ideal health and weight, your body holds all of the answers.
Western medicine takes more of a “let’s stop the issue” and take this pill for that approach instead of checking in with the body to understand where it’s coming from or what is causing it.
That’s why it’s so common to get prescribed medication, such as birth control for acne, only to have it partially resolve the issue and for something new to pop up. It’s like chasing holes in a sinking boat!
This western approach works perfectly in acute and serious situations such as car accidents or catastrophic events when measures need to be taken immediately to stop the bleeding and save a limb or life. But they aren’t effective for the common chronic health and weight issues that most of us face on a daily basis.
We could spend hours breaking down all of your body parts and what clues they hold about your health. Correlating body parts with symptoms and nerve meridians have been the main focus in eastern medicine practices such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries.
For today, let’s just focus on the little nuggets about your health that your forehead might have to share…
These 3 clues will give you insights into your digestion, liver and detox capacity, hormonal balance, and thyroid function.
Super Clue #1 - Metabolism & Thyroid Function
I first learned about the forehead’s correlation with your health status when I started studying thyroid conditions on a deeper level.
Hair loss in the “widow’s peak” area of the hairline or forehead points to a sluggish thyroid usually indicating hypothyroidism or Hashimotos.
Missing the outer 3rd portion of your eyebrows (also in the forehead region) is another strong clue indicating low thyroid function that should be investigated.
Super Clue #2 - Digestion & Gluten Sensitivity
I was fascinated when I heard Dr. Tom O’Bryan (one of the pioneers in gluten sensitivity research) quote a study that connected the dots between the size of your forehead and your susceptibility to gluten sensitivity.
In the study, they found that a large forehead directly correlates with having Celiac’s disease and/or gluten sensitivity, so much so that the study stated, “This sign along with the presence of other clinical signs and symptoms, should alert a physician to test a patient for celiac disease.”
I had already been diagnosed with celiacs a couple of years before, but after hearing this is it all made sense. I had a large forehead indication and increased sensitivity or potential autoimmunity related to gluten, and that's why when I finally had the celiac diagnosis and cut gluten I felt worlds apart difference.
Super Clue #3 - Liver & Detoxification
You may have heard the old-wise tale about how acne in specific areas of the face can correlate with your diet, stress, dirty hands, and allergic reactions.
Well, there’s actually some truth to this.
According to the nerve meridians used in eastern medicine, the area of your forehead is linked to your major detoxification organs such as your liver, gallbladder, kidneys and bladder.
Acne on your forehead can indicate a back-up in your body’s ability to detox and process toxins or excess hormones, such as estrogen, adequately.
When I was in the throes of healing from infection in my lymph system, detoxing from toxic implants in my mouth, and estrogen dominance I had forehead acne for the first time in my life. I felt like a raging teenager again contemplating those dang bangs again to cover the acne….but I resisted, again... (Don’t do it, bangs always end up being a regret!!! haaaa)
And even more interesting, on an emotional level forehead acne can be related to anger, anxiety, fear, frustration, worry, and grief! Wow, this one struck me. I was still healing from the massive grief of the loss of a child and anxiety over my kids that were alive and well, but made me fearful of losing them because of what I had gone through. As I learned all of this information it just confirmed my need for full-body healing even more.
On top of it all, all of these clues can also be connected!
In order for your thyroid to function at full steam, your digestive tract and detox organs need to be running effectively.
An inflamed digestive system from gluten sensitivity will allow more toxins into your bloodstream, leading to liver overload and then taking your thyroid down with it.
And the vicious cycle could go on and on and on.
Next time you look in the mirror, take a closer look at your forehead to see what it might be saying about your health.
If you notice any of these clues that I mentioned, you’ll want to...
Do a food sensitivity and gluten reactivity test to verify if these are issues for you
Test your thyroid to see if your thyroid hormones are in optimal ranges
Boost your detox capacity with some high-quality liver support supplements and naturally detoxifying food such as beets, dandelion greens, and cruciferous vegetables
I’ve learned to love the size of my forehead because of the valuable insights and empowerment it’s given me about my health.
And as many of my clients and I have experienced, it may not be possible to change the size of your forehead but you can learn to appreciate the health knowledge it has to offer, and it is possible to get your thyroid, digestion, and detoxification back on track so you can have your luscious hair and clear skin back.
Share this with a family member or friend who might find it useful too!
And as always, if you want to get your hands on the right lab tests and resources so you can find the missing pieces of your health puzzle and get back to feeling like yourself again, schedule an Ideal Health & Hormone Discovery Session with me today here.
Upcoming Specials & Events
Shop & Eat AIP with Ease!
Eating an Autoimmune Paleo diet can be tricky until you get the hang of it, but that’s why Sandra Dorst founded Shop AIP, an online food store that specializes in AIP-friendly foods. Now you can find AIP-friendly foods without having to read every ingredient or research every food you’re interested in. Check out some of my favorite products such as the rosemary lamb jerky :)
Start shopping AIP with ease here!
Take The Work Out of Menu Planning!
Part of finding my food freedom involved finding a tool that would take the guesswork out of meal planning and grocery shopping so I could get more of my time and my life back.
That’s when I stumbled upon Real Plans, an online menu planning service that tailors weekly recipes to your dietary needs, how much time you want to spend in the kitchen, and where you live for seasonal availability of foods.
And one of the best parts is it compiles a grocery list specific to your recipes, how many servings you’ll be making, and organizes it by the categories in the grocery store so you can whiz through!
Try Real Plans and take the work out of menu planning here!
