Pour On The Persuasion

            Talk business at Starbucks and you might boost your sales.  Australian researchers recently determined that a person is more likely to be persuaded if he’s had a strong dose of caffeine.  In the study, participants drank either the caffeine or a noncaffeinated placebo.  Then they read a persuasive message on which they’d originally had an opposing opinion.  The outcome: Caffeine drinkers were more easily swayed than those who downed none.  “Caffeine enhances alertness and concentration, enabling people to better evaluate the content of a message,” says lead investigator Pearl Y. Martin, Ph.D.  So pair a sound argument with a Grande latté and you could have the formula to change a stubborn clients mind.  If you use it to enhance your own powers of reason, choose a Starbucks Caffe Americano—it’s loaded with caffeine, yet contains only 25 calories.

The Missing Vitamin

            There could be a deficiency in your diet: Harvard University researchers discovered that most people have blood levels of vitamin D that are far below optimal.  The scientists recommended that half the population consume at least 25 micrograms (1,000 international units) of the vitamin daily to achieve the lowest risk of bone fractures, periodontal disease, and colon cancer.  That’s about 20 mcg (800 IU) more than the average man’s current intake.  Although milk is an obvious source of vitamin D, it contains just 3 mcg (133IU) per 8-ouce glass.  Boost your intake with a supplement such as Carlson’s Vitamin D ($13 for 250 1,000 IU soft gels www.carlsonlabs.com)

Sneaky Snacks

            If you’re concerned about calories, make sure you read a snack’s Nutrition Facts label closely.  Manufacturers are required to provide calorie content based on FDA standards for serving size, not the total amount in the package.  So you could be eating up to four times the number of calories listed on the label if you down the whole thing.

Examples:  20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola (100 calories listed on label (one serving= size 8oz) 250 entire bottle).

                        King-size Snickers Bar (170 calories listed on label (one serving= ½ bar) 510  Entire bar0.

                        3.75 oz bag of Traditional Flavor Chex Mix (130 Calories listed on label (one serving= 2/3 cup or just over an ounce) 455 entire package

                        4 pack of Keebler soft batch Chocolate chip cookies (80 calories listed on label (one serving= one cookie) 320 entire package).