Can Your Personality Affect Your Ability To Get Healthy?

Why do some people find it easier to maintain a whole food plant based diet (WFPB) than other people? This has puzzled me for quite some time. My best guess has been that some people have an above average committment to living a healthy lifestyle. While there may be some truth to this, the field of psychology offers a more detailed explanation.

I stumbled upon this article written by someone called Vegan Barbie. In it she shares Dr. Doug Lisle’s thoughts on the personality traits that are best suited to adopting a WFPB diet. According to Dr. Lisle, there are 5 personality characteristics:

1. openness to experience
2. conscientiousness
3. extraversion or introversion
4. agreeableness
5. stability

The personality best suited to adopting a WFPB diet is:

1. not very open
2. conscientiousness
3. introverted
4. not agreeable
5. stable

Someone who is very open to new experiences may initially be drawn to a WFPB diet, but may get bored quickly if he/she thinks there is little dietary variety.

The British and World English dictionary defines conscientious as “wishing to do one’s work or duty thoroughly”. So the trait of conscientiousness would certainly be helpful in sticking with anything to which one has made a commitment.

Introverts are less likely to find the need to socialize when eating. Therefore they are not as apt to eat out very often. This would make it easier to follow a WFPB diet with little added fat, salt and sugar.

Disagreeable people are less likely to be influenced by family members and friends who try to persuade them to eat a more “normal” diet.

Stable people are less likely to use food and drink to celebrate good times or provide comfort during rough times.

This information on personality traits helps to explain why I haven’t found following a WFPB diet difficult at all. On the “openness to experience” scale, I’m probably not at the extreme of non-openness, but I’ll never be confused with being adventurous, especially from a dietary perspective. I like to think I’m conscientious, and I know I’m introverted. I’m disagreeable, meaning that I will never agree to do something I find objectionable; even if it might make someone feel better. As far as stability goes, I suppose I’m stable as I don’t seem to let my emotions affect my dietary habits.

So my boring, quiet, anti-social and stubborn personality traits have paid off! But not everyone can be so lucky to have these traits. What is a nice, adventurous, partying extrovert to do?

Beats me.

Just kidding – I do have some suggestions.

• Work on finding restaurants that provide options that meet your WFPB guidelines.
• Be creative with your meals.
• Try new fruits and veggies (There are thousands to choose from)
• Try new whole grains.
• Add different beans to your diet
• Reward yourself with non-food items
• Try new exercises to add variety and to boost mood during tough times
• Ask your extroverted friends if they want give WFPB a shot
• Tell friends and family who try to sabotage your efforts to piss off!       (you can use a nice person’s version of “piss off”.)

If these suggestions aren’t much help, you may be interested in learning what Dr. Lisle has to say. You can check out his “Continuum of Evil and The Perfect Personality” DVD.

Whatever your obstacles are in transitioning to a WFPB diet, please know that you can always email us at plantasticlife@gmail.com with any questions you have.

Stay healthy and strong!