The Better Brain Program
When your brain isn’t working like it used to.
Maybe you're forgetting words that once came easily, struggling to concentrate, or finding that everyday tasks require more mental effort than they used to. Perhaps your thinking has changed following a concussion, an illness, or the hormonal shifts of midlife. Or maybe you've noticed gradual changes in your memory and are concerned about what they could mean for the future.
Changes in cognitive function can affect your work, relationships, confidence, and sense of independence. These changes can be frustrating and unsettling, particularly when you're still managing to get through your day, but doing so takes more energy than anyone realizes.
The Better Brain Program is a personalized six-month program designed to help you understand your cognitive concerns, address modifiable contributors, and work toward improved brain health and everyday functioning.
A Comprehensive Approach to Brain Health
The brain doesn't function independently from the rest of the body.
Metabolic health, hormones, gut health, nutritional status, inflammation, sleep, infections, environmental exposures, and nervous system function can all influence how we think, feel, and function.
My approach combines careful assessment of your brain health concerns with an investigation of the broader health factors that may be contributing to them.
Importantly, I look beyond symptoms and laboratory findings alone. I also consider how cognitive changes affect your everyday life, including your ability to work, manage responsibilities, participate in relationships, and sustain mental effort.
The goal is to identify meaningful priorities and develop a treatment plan that is appropriate for your individual needs.
The Better Brain Method
1.0 | Investigate
Understand The Full Picture
We begin with a comprehensive review of your health history, cognitive concerns, previous medical evaluations, and how your symptoms affect everyday life.
Baseline cognitive assessments and clinically appropriate laboratory testing help us establish priorities and identify potential contributing factors.
The goal is to understand where you are starting and develop a clear, individualized roadmap.
2.0 | Stabilize
Build a Strong Foundation
Before pursuing more complex interventions, we focus on the foundations that influence brain health.
This may include nutrition, metabolic health, movement, sleep, and nervous system regulation.
We also address practical strategies for managing cognitive fatigue and supporting your current level of functioning.
4.0 | Sustain
Plan for Long-Term Health
In the final phase, we review your progress, identify which strategies have been most useful, and establish a plan for continued support.
Our focus is on meaningful, sustainable improvements, not simply changes in symptoms or laboratory markers, but how you feel and function in daily life.
3.0 | Restore
Address Relevant Contributors
As we build on the foundations, we will address deeper systems in the body that influence brain health.
This is individualized but could include hormonal balance, inflammation, mitochondrial function, gut health, metabolic health, infections or immune reactivity.
Treatment is guided by your clinical findings, priorities, and response to care.
Your 6 Month Roadmap
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Visits 1 - 2 | Investigate
90 minute intake and a 60 minute first follow up.
A comprehensive initial assessment, baseline measurements, review of relevant laboratory findings, and development of your personalized care plan.
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Visits 3-5 | Stabilize
30 minute appointments.
Bi-weekly follow-ups focused on implementing foundational strategies like nutrition, exercise, sleep, and nervous system regulation. We not only identify the ideal approach for you, but support you in finding a way to incorporate these changes into your life sustainably.
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Visit 6 | Reassess
60 minute appointment.
A mid-program reassessment to evaluate progress, review clinical findings, and identify priorities for the next phase of care.
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Visits 7-9 | Restore
30 minute appointments
Targeted interventions address your unique body systems that need balancing - this may include hormone balance, gut health, metabolic function, inflammation/immune activation, mitochondrial health, genetic risks, or others.
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Visit 10 | Sustain
1 hour appointment.
A final reassessment, review of progress, and development of a personalized long-term care plan.
The Better Brain Program Includes:
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Comprehensive assessment of symptoms and brain health function are completed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to help track progress and ensure we are on the right path.
Advanced assessment tools including the cognitive assessment software - CNS Vital Signs - to help identify precise cognitive deficits so we are not left guessing.
Validated questionnaires including GAD-7, PHQ-9, ISI, and the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory provide symptom data that can be used to track changes in mood, sleep, and brain symptoms over time.
Optional Add on: Neuroquant MRI for qualifying individuals. This provides volumetric data about the brain, and can be useful in assessing individuals with TBI, mild cognitive impairment, and mold illness.
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Included in the program is a comprehensive lab evaluation valued at $1,500.
Comprehensive Metabolic & Systems Health Testing (Vibrant Health Foundation Zoomer)An extensive assessment of the physiological systems that influence brain health, including metabolism, inflammation, hormone balance, cardiovascular function, gut health, and cellular health.
Testing includes:
Metabolic health: Blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, insulin resistance, and other markers of blood sugar regulation
Cardiovascular health: Cholesterol, advanced lipoproteins, ApoB, lipoprotein(a), and markers associated with vascular inflammation.
Inflammation & immunity: CRP, inflammatory cytokines, immune cell populations, immunoglobulins, and select autoimmune markers
Pituitary Function and Hormonal health: Pituitary signaling markers, Thyroid hormones, cortisol, DHEA-S, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, growth hormone, and related hormones
Gut health: Markers associated with intestinal barrier function
Liver & kidney health: Comprehensive markers of liver and kidney function
Cellular & bone health: Complete blood count, iron studies, vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone, and markers related to muscle and bone health
Comprehensive Nutritional Testing (Vibrant Wellness Nutrition Baseline)
A detailed assessment of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids involved in brain function, cellular energy, and nervous system health.
Testing includes:
Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 (folate), B12, C, D, E, and K
Minerals: Magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, calcium, iron, manganese, chromium, potassium, and sodium
Amino acids: Arginine, glutamine, cysteine, citrulline, serine, asparagine, and branched-chain amino acids
Essential fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and DPA
Additional nutrients: Coenzyme Q10, carnitine, choline, and inositol
Specialized Neuroimmune Testing (Vibrant Wellness Neural Zoomer)
Specialized antibody testing may help investigate immune responses in the brain associated with neurological structures, nerve signaling, and nervous system disorders.
Testing includes:
Antibodies to myelin & nerves, neurotransmitters, and signaling molecules
Blood–brain barrier-associated markers
Infection-associated immune responses: Antibodies to EBV, HSV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, and streptococcal antigens
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No two brain health cases are the same. Each person in the program receives customized treatment recommendations based on your unique symptoms, diagnoses, capacity, and priorities.
Foundational treatment recommendations will include nutritional guidance, movement recommendations, nervous system regulation practices, and sleep optimization strategies.
Targeted protocols will be designed for you based on the systemic imbalances that arose during assessment and labs. This may include hormonal balance, gut health optimization, mitochondrial function, metabolic support, addressing immune activation or infections, or other health concerns that arise.
You will receive a personalized Better Brain Roadmap that will be adjusted as needed at each visit. This will make your plan and recommendations clear so you always know where we are heading.
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Ten individual visits with me over six months spaced roughly 2 weeks apart. Group office hours are held every other Friday for questions as you move through the program. You will also receive an email check-in from me every other week to see how you’re doing and how you might need support.
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A 15% discount on supplements through FullScript will be given to all patients in the Better Brain Program.
Additional laboratory testing, imaging, supplements, medications, and outside services are not included unless otherwise specified.
Duration: 6 Months
Investment: $6,000
Who is the Better Brain Program for?
The Better Brain Program is designed for adults experiencing persistent cognitive concerns who would benefit from comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment, and structured follow-up. It is particularly well suited for:
Brain Fog & Cognitive Fatigue
Persistent difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating, or sustaining mental effort, particularly when symptoms interfere with work, relationships, or everyday responsibilities.
Post-Concussion & Brain Injury Symptoms
Ongoing cognitive symptoms following a concussion or traumatic brain injury, including difficulties with neurofatigue, memory, concentration, or nervous system regulation.
Post-Viral Cognitive Changes
Persistent changes in cognitive function following illness, particularly when brain fog and mental fatigue interfere with daily activities.
Midlife Cognitive Changes
Memory concerns, concentration difficulties, and changes in cognitive function during perimenopause, menopause, or other hormonal transitions.
Memory Concerns & Long-Term Brain Health
Adults experiencing changes in memory or cognitive performance, including those who want to evaluate modifiable risk factors associated with future cognitive decline.
Better Brain is intended to complement appropriate primary care, neurological assessment, rehabilitation, and other medical services. It is not a substitute for specialist evaluation of progressive cognitive decline or other potentially serious neurological symptoms.
Better Brain is not well suited for individuals with rapidly progressing cognitive decline, acute or unstable neurological conditions, malignancy, severe psychiatric symptoms requiring specialized care, or advanced neurodegenerative disease. It is also not designed for those primarily seeking counseling/psychological treatment or neurological rehabilitation.
If you're unsure whether the program is appropriate for your needs, we can discuss this during a free consultation and identify a more suitable path forward if needed.
Meet Dr. Julia Navaro, ND
I’m a California-licensed naturopathic doctor with a particular focus on brain health. I earned my doctorate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and completed postdoctoral residencies in Seattle and San Diego.
My interest in brain health is both professional and personal. I’ve spent the past year working with veterans experiencing persistent cognitive concerns, and my own experiences with brain injury and mold exposure, along with neurological illness in my family, have deepened my understanding of these challenges.
Many of my patients look fine from the outside while every day takes far more effort than anyone sees. My commitment is to individualized care that addresses not only cognitive symptoms, but their impact on everyday life.
FAQ
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You’ve probably tried really good things. What’s usually missing is someone holding the whole picture, putting the pieces in order, and measuring what changes over time.
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All visits are by secure video. Your baseline includes a computer-based cognitive test you complete at home, and three comprehensive blood panels from Vibrant Wellness. Blood can be drawn via mobile phlebotomy at your home or scheduled at a nearby draw site. I review every result with you in plain English, so you’ll know what each number means and what we’re doing about it.
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I can’t guarantee results, and no one honestly can. Many people notice early shifts in symptoms once targeted changes to diet, sleep, and movement are underway. The brain tends to heal slowly, so deeper changes often take several months and sometimes up to a year. That’s why we measure again at 3 and 6 months and plan together for what comes after the program.
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The program is $6,000 and includes your 10 visits and $1,500 of baseline testing. Supplements and any additional imaging or labwork would be a separate cost. Payment plans are available. If you decide early on that the program isn’t the right fit, there’s a low-pressure exit option with a clean transition plan.
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Yes. I’m a California-licensed naturopathic doctor, and all visits are by secure telehealth, so you need to be located in California when we meet. I also ask every patient to keep a primary care provider, and I’m glad to coordinate with them.
Strategic Assessment