Where Did I Leave The Keys?

Natural Health magazine's current issue features tips for sharpening the memory.

Areas of importance include sleep, exercise, choosing certain types of dietary fat and carbohydrates, challenging the brain, and using caffeine and chocolate as memory boosters.

Magazine editor-in-chief Rachel Streit visits The Early Show on Monday to talk about five lifestyle choices that can help with memory enhancement.

Sleep and exercise - A good night's sleep helps your brain function better. During sleep, your brain processes experiences from the day and strengthens the connections between brain cells formed when you were awake. It also "prunes" away the excess connections you don't need.

Exercise can help you get the sleep you need, and also helps provide your brain with more blood flow. More blood means more nutrients and oxygen to help your brain function better. Exercise also helps reduce stress, which can produce memory-damaging hormones.

Good diet - Choosing the right kind of fats in your diet can help your memory. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and in fish oil supplements can help improve cognitive function. You should avoid trans fats found in junk food, because this type of fat narrows the blood vessels and reduces the flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen to the brain. Also complex carbohydrates like kidney beans or bananas can give the brain a lift by increasing sugar levels in the bloodstream.

Challenging your brain - The more intellectual stimulation your brain gets, the better it functions. Activities like crossword puzzles or reading can help enhance memory. One theory is that intellectual stimulation prevents deterioration by strengthening the neural connections in the brain. The more stimulating those experiences are, the stronger the connections grow. Another theory is that the connections deteriorate regardless, but the constant stimulation forces other connections to grow instead.

Memory boosters - Caffeine and chocolate can help you remember information better. Tea is the preferable caffeine source. Caffeine will make you more alert so you can absorb information better. Dark chocolate contains compounds called procyanidins, which counteract inflammation and oxidation. They may also improve circulation to provide more nutrients and oxygen.

If you can't remember something no matter how hard you try, the best advice is: Don't stress out. Just relax and let it come to you.