Every year in January, most of us have great intentions to make changes to our lives. A new year, a new you, right? Well, maybe for a few weeks. Many of us are so motivated and determined to make changes that we don’t really stop to think “Are these changes realistic for me right now?” or “Am I working on too many changes at once?”

Obviously food affects our moods: when we’re hungry, we’re cranky; when we’re celebrating with dinner, we’re relaxed and happy. Comfort foods help us feel better, and most of us understand that healthy eating is as good for our minds as our physical disposition. Until very recently our brains functioned on the type of foods our ancestors ate: whole fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and natural sweeteners such as honey, and lean meats like seafood and wild game. The modern brain has experienced a biological jolt, adjusting to an altered diet that leaves short many of the nutrient combinations essential to optimum brain function.