Podcast Summary: The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast — Ep. 87: "5 Simple Health Changes That Could Transform Your Life" with Dr. Will Cole
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo welcome renowned functional medicine expert Dr. Will Cole to discuss practical, science-backed ways to improve health holistically without succumbing to anxiety over wellness culture. The conversation revolves around understanding root causes of health issues, demystifying lab testing, making lasting nutrition and lifestyle changes, and balancing information overload with actionable steps.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Confusion and Anxiety Around Health (02:06–03:12)

• Health anxiety in the digital age: Jinger and Jeremy highlight the conflicting advice online—one week eggs are harmful, the next they’re recommended. They express a desire to find clarity amid overwhelming information.
• Goal for the episode: Discuss clean living and healthy choices without fear-driven decisions.

2. Dr. Will Cole’s Approach to Functional Medicine (03:20–08:03)

• Functional medicine basics: Dr. Cole explains his methodology focuses on what’s optimal for an individual, not just what’s “normal”. He critiques how lab results compare people to the average American, who may not be thriving.
  • "What you’re unintentionally telling that person is you’re a lot like the other people that aren’t thriving that we’re comparing you to. And that’s no way for you to find out how you can feel your best." (01:01, 03:49)
• Key practices:
  • Reinterpreting labs for optimal health
  • Comprehensive lab testing for root issues beyond medications
  • Considering mental, emotional, and spiritual factors

3. How to Start Unpacking Health Concerns, Especially for Families (08:03–11:34)

• Empowerment versus overwhelm: Dr. Cole advises balancing self-education with emotional health, warning against “paralysis of analysis.”
  • "Stressing about healthy things isn’t good for your health." (11:34)

4. Steps Toward Health Without Living in Fear (14:22–17:51)

• Bio-individuality: Everyone’s needs and capacity for health information vary.
• Self-respect over restriction: Framing food and lifestyle choices as self-love, not deprivation.
  • "Continuing to eat things or do things that don’t love you back is like staying in a toxic relationship and wondering why you still don’t feel good. Avoiding things that don’t love you back is a form of self respect." (15:13)

5. The “Inflammatory Core Four” to Eliminate or Minimize (19:58–26:46)

Dr. Cole’s top four food groups/ingredients to watch out for:

• Gluten-containing grains (wheat, rye, barley, spelt)
• Industrial seed oils (canola, vegetable, soybean)
• Conventional dairy
• Added sugar
  • "If people decrease that, the world would be a healthier place." (26:46)

Note: He encourages seeking better-quality alternatives over complete elimination unless necessary, and calls for label literacy rather than blind trust in branding.

6. Consistency and Patience with Dietary Changes (27:54–30:57)

• On elimination diets: Remove all likely offenders for at least four weeks, then reintroduce one at a time to gauge individual response.
  • "Consistency is key...Our culture is this quick fix, Amazon prime culture. It’s mass consumption consumerism." (29:22)

7. Influence of Food Industry and Navigating Grocery Shopping (31:41–37:20)

• Corporate influence: U.S. food system is driven by profit, pushing food quality lower compared to other countries.
• Practical tips: Use Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15/Dirty Dozen for produce. Good options can be found at Walmart, Aldi, Costco, not just stores like Whole Foods or Erewhon. Label literacy is crucial everywhere.

8. Family Meals and Kids’ Eating Habits (37:20–39:03)

• Importance of eating together: Instills healthy habits and food literacy. Involving kids in cooking and shopping helps them learn where food comes from and cultivates better choices.

9. Spiritual and Emotional Roots of Health Issues (39:03–44:26)

• Holistic healing: Dr. Cole emphasizes addressing trauma, mental health, and spiritual wellbeing as integral to physical health.
  • "Spiritual health is physical health. It’s one and the same...If they know who they are, it informs a lot of things about their life." (40:40)
• Incorporates prayer, therapy, and trauma processing alongside nutrition and medical treatment.

10. The Role and Value of Blood Work (44:26–47:22)

• Why labs matter: Labs can reveal issues before symptoms arise, enabling proactive care. But action matters more than just collecting results.
  • "Labs are important, but doing something about it is actually more important." (47:22)

11. First Steps & Baby Steps for Listeners (47:42–52:07)

• Start small: Access resources (books, podcasts, articles) for free or low cost. Dr. Cole’s site and content are meant to empower people without requiring expensive interventions.
  • "People need to lean in, but taking it slow is actually the smart way to do it versus feeling like I have to overhaul everything in my life overnight." (51:04)
• Simple swaps: Begin with food, then move to cleaning products or other house basics, replacing conventional items with healthier alternatives at your own pace.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On information overload:
  "Dr. Google, Dr. Chatgpt is a little scary; it's a blessing, but also can be a really endless vortex of conflicting information." — Dr. Will Cole (09:58)

• On food as self-love:
  "It's not a list of do's or don'ts...Avoiding things that don't love you back is a form of self respect." — Dr. Will Cole (15:13)

• On food industry realities:
  "Our genetics haven’t changed in a long time, but yet our world has changed dramatically in such a short period of time." — Dr. Will Cole (17:56)

• On emotional roots of symptoms:
  "It is this cathartic release...connecting the dots of, oh, when I went through that in my life, that's when these symptoms started happening right after that." — Dr. Will Cole (40:40)

• On the need for action, not just knowledge:
  "Labs are important, but doing something about it is actually more important." — Dr. Will Cole (47:22)

Key Timestamps

• 01:01 / 03:49: Optimal vs average in lab interpretation
• 09:58: Information overload and need for discernment
• 11:34: Dangers of health anxiety
• 15:13: Food as self-respect, not restriction
• 19:58: Introduction to "Inflammatory Core Four"
• 26:46: Summary of four foods to avoid
• 29:22: Quick fix culture and dietary patience
• 31:41: Food industry influence and transparency problems
• 37:54: Loss of family meal culture
• 40:40: Addressing spiritual and emotional roots
• 44:41: Importance of blood work
• 47:22: Value of applying (not just gathering) health data
• 51:04: Taking baby steps and giving yourself grace

Practical Takeaways

• Focus on consistently making one change at a time—start with food, then consider cleaning supplies, etc.
• Educate yourself but resist anxiety or perfectionism.
• Become “label literate”—don’t assume any store or brand is perfect.
• Involve your family, especially kids, in cooking, shopping, and learning about food.
• Address emotional and spiritual health alongside physical habits.
• Remember: Long-term, small, consistent actions make the biggest difference.

For more, Dr. Will Cole provides extensive free educational resources at drwillcole.com.

Summary prepared for listeners who want actionable, sustainable health insights without falling into overwhelm or fear.