At Prima, we believe in the power of integrative wellness—approaches that support not only the body but also the mind and spirit.
That’s why we were honored to sit down with Dr. Will Cole in 2019. A leading functional medicine expert, Dr. Cole is the author of Ketotarian and The Inflammation Spectrum, and a pioneer in a new model of healthcare that investigates the root causes of chronic conditions instead of merely treating symptoms.
His thoughtful, personalized approach resonates deeply with our philosophy at Prima: to empower people with tools to feel better—naturally.
What does functional medicine mean to you?
“Functional medicine is this beautiful marrying between the best of Western medicine and the best of alternative medicine. In the sense that we are evidence-based, we just run more comprehensive labs. We are looking at a bigger, deeper picture of human physiology beyond just the basics.
“Typically speaking, for chronic health problems, the training is to diagnose a disease and then match it with a medication. It’s this medicinal matching game, but we have to say, okay, what is actually the root cause? It’s not a medication deficiency.
“So let’s run more comprehensive labs and really get to why this person is feeling the way they do, and why they are experiencing the symptoms they are experiencing—instead of just saying, ‘You’re just depressed, here’s an antidepressant,’ or ‘You’re just getting older,’ or ‘You need to lose weight.’ These are the easy answers that many, many people are told.
“There’s a rising problem we cannot deny: a surge in autoimmunity and inflammatory issues that don’t necessarily have a name, but are real physiological manifestations. We need ways to deal with them, to help people, support them, and give them the tools to start reclaiming their health and quality of life.
“The second thing we do in functional medicine is interpret the conventional labs in more detail. We’re interested in where optimal vitality resides. It’s this functional range where the person’s body is functioning the best—that’s where we get our name, functional medicine.
“And we realize we’re all created differently. There’s not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to eating well; what works for one person may not be right for the next. So we customize healthcare to the individual. We use food as medicine, herbal botanical medicines, things like CBD, medications when needed, as well as pertinent lifestyle changes to really personalize care.”
What is your philosophy around the mind-body connection?
“You can’t separate the two. Oftentimes in Western culture, not just in Western medicine, but in Western thought, we like to separate mental health from physical health. But mental health is physical health.
“Our mind, our thoughts, our emotions—the things that you cannot measure—impact what you can measure. Someone can be eating super clean, working out in the gym, but if they have a toxic home life or are stressed out at work, you can measure that in labs. You’ll see inflammation levels spike, hormones become imbalanced. You have to deal with these things.
“This is an in-depth conversation about a person’s life. That’s the personalization I’m talking about. You’re not going to solve these complex issues in a 10-minute appointment and a pill. You have to be really thorough.”
Do you have a hypothesis around the root causes of rising conditions like inflammation and autoimmune diseases?
“What was once a rarity is now ubiquitous. An estimated 50 million Americans have an autoimmune condition, and millions more are somewhere on this ‘autoimmune-inflammation spectrum.’ That’s why my second book is called The Inflammation Spectrum—because it’s something I see so much in my clinic.
“It’s ten years prior to a diagnosis when things are actually beginning. It’s a decade of feeling kind of fatigued, feeling aches and pains, or depressed, or anxious, or having sleep problems, or slightly higher blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol. These things don’t happen overnight.
“Genetics haven’t changed in 10,000 years, but the stress on our genetics has changed dramatically. The main variable is stress: exposure to toxins, chronic stress, food supply issues, environmental stressors, viral infections, gut problems—all of it. These are awakening genetic predispositions like never before.”
What are some triggers that can negatively impact our health?
“The main driver is inflammation. Inflammation isn’t necessarily bad—we need it to fight viruses and bacteria. The problem is when it’s out of balance for too long.
“It’s not just the food we eat, it’s also the food we aren’t eating. We’re missing micronutrients, and we’re also consuming things that are out of line with our genetics.
“Another driver is stress—poor sleep, too much screen time, not enough movement, and exposure to toxins in products we use on our skin and in our homes. The skin is our largest organ. We’re divorced from the fact that what we put on our skin goes into our bloodstream.”
How did you get involved and interested in this work?
“I grew up in a household that was into wellness before it was cool. In the ’80s and ’90s, I was the kid drinking weird adaptogenic tonics and raw goat milk.
“My parents were into alternative health before it was mainstream. There was no internet—just local health food stores and pockets of people interested in indigenous and traditional medicine.
“Then I got into functional medicine, went to Southern California University of Health Sciences, and became formally trained. So this is all very normal to me.”
Why are people so excited about CBD right now?
“CBD can be very effective and very safe. It has little to no side effects, and that’s a major criterion in functional medicine—what’s effective and causes the least side effects.
“People look at the state of healthcare and the options they’re given—often just prescriptions—and realize they need to do something different to see different results. CBD is the perfect solution for that gap.”
Do you use CBD?
“Earth as medicine is very normal to me. It’s always been part of my life—the way I eat, the way I treat my body. I try to be a good steward of the gifts I’ve been given: my health and my body. CBD is part of that.
“I have autoimmune issues on both sides of my family. I saw relatives dealing with those problems and decided I’d do everything I could to avoid that path. Obviously, we can’t control everything, but I want to give my best effort.
“The common thread in almost every health problem today is inflammation. I use CBD and other tools to modulate inflammation and help with anxiety.”
What do you personally consume to stay healthy?
“I use CBD and other herbs to support healthy inflammation levels and a calm mind. I love adaptogens—Holy Basil, collagen, spirulina, Lion’s Mane. I eat a mostly plant-based ketogenic diet, which is the focus of my first book.
“When I wake up, I drink water and Earl Grey tea, which contains bergamot—great for inflammation. Lunch is usually a plant-based meal, and for dinner, albacore tuna salad with avocado and grapefruit salsa.”
In your words, what is balance? What is equilibrium?
“Balance means feeling great energy during the day and being able to sleep at night. It’s the Yin and Yang of the day. You’re not just pushing through—you’re enjoying the moment and functioning at your best.
“Then at night, you’re able to rest deeply. On a micro level, we use labs and inflammation markers to assess balance—it’s measurable.
“Most people don’t know they have options. They’re grinding through the 9-to-5, feeling lousy, and thinking that’s normal. But we don’t have to settle. We can live life on a higher level.”
Closing Thoughts
At Prima, our commitment to wellness echoes Dr. Will Cole’s holistic approach: that true health is about more than treating symptoms—it’s about understanding the whole person. We believe in empowering individuals with safe, natural, and effective tools like CBD and plant-based botanicals to support balance, vitality, and resilience in daily life. Dr. Cole’s insights are a powerful reminder that when we listen to our bodies and choose personalized, thoughtful care, we open the door to living well, on every level.
