Your Body of Evidence Podcast

Ever wondered why two people get the same health advice, and one follows it for years while the other has stopped by week two?

Personality does affect health — but not in the way it's usually sold. Of the five major traits, conscientiousness (being organised, disciplined, able to follow through) predicts health and longevity most consistently — not optimism or positivity. The reason is unglamorous: conscientious people are slightly more likely to actually do the things that protect health, then do them again tomorrow. In one study of nearly half a million people, low conscientiousness predicted poorer health, higher body mass and more substance use across every group tested.

But the effects are modest. Personality nudges the odds; it doesn't write the outcome. And conscientiousness isn't linearly good — the same drive for control is, at its extreme, a recognised vulnerability, most clearly in restrictive eating (with a signposted note and a companion episode).

I also walk through the other four traits, correct the old Type A myth (it's hostility that carries cardiovascular risk, not drive), place MBTI honestly, and cover what heritability really means.

The final third is practical. Traits aren't fixed. Low conscientiousness responds to environmental design and self-efficacy — small guaranteed wins — not to being told to try harder. And change happens through relationship, repetition and reframing, not fear.

The takeaway: you can't choose your temperament, but you can choose whether your plan was built for the person you actually are.

You have had blood tests and your GP has told you everything is normal. You don't feel like your normal self. Standard blood panels are designed to identify pathology, not to optimise function. Reference ranges are population averages. A result that falls within the reference range is not a result that cannot be improved.

In this episode Lisa reveals five functional tests that consistently reveal clinically actionable findings that a standard panel misses. This episode is about the gap between normal and optimal, and the testing that lives in that space. Specifically this episode talks about 5 tests that I recommend in addition to the standard set that you can ask for: fasting plasma homocysteine, whole blood histamine, plasma zinc and serum copper, four point salivary cortisol and vitamin D. Print the list of five tests from this episode and take it along to your next appointment.

You don't need to request all five simultaneously. Start with the ones most relevant to you and your presenting symptoms or concerns.

In this inaugural episode, Lisa breaks down the science of methylation—a fundamental biochemical process that dictates energy, mood, and cognitive performance. Discover why standard tests often miss methylation issues and how high-performing professionals can leverage this critical pathway to optimise their health and resilience.