Few situations will make you cringe more than standing next to someone you've met several times and drawing a blank on his or her name.

Plenty of business deals and romantic rendezvous have been foiled because someone failed to recall the right name at the right time. In the Web age e-mail and social networks offer safe harbor; being able to use someone's name (and pronounce it correctly) in a face-to-face situation can set you apart.

"Everyone struggles with remembering names," says Jill Spiegel, author of How to Talk to Anyone About Anything. "When we first meet someone we're taking in so much visually and emotionally. They say their name, but it's up there floating in our heads." Making matters worse are all the single-syllable American male names, like Chris, Mike or Tom, that tend to blend together.

Top Tips: 10 Simple Tricks To Remembering Names

There are tricks to remembering names. Master even one or two and you'll be in good shape.

Benjamin Levy, author of Remember Every Name Every Time, advocates the FACE method: "focus, ask, comment and employ." Focus: Lock in on the person's face. Ask: Inquire which version he prefers ("Is it Ted or Theodore?"). Comment: Say something about the name and cross-reference it in your head ("My college roommate's name was Ted.") Employ: Put the name to use--"Nice seeing you, Ted"--to drive it home.

For a full list of simple name-recognition tactics, check out our slideshow. For a quick handful, read on:

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. The most surefire strategy is to repeat the person's name--both in your head, and out loud--as soon as possible after you've been introduced. Occasionally use the person's name in conversation. "Pleasure to meet you, Bob," or "Bob, so good to see you." Don't overdo it, of course, but don't worry that Bob will recoil, either. He'd rather you remember his name than not.

Find The Trigger. Try to associate names with things people tell you about themselves (careers, hobbies) that will trigger the sound or association of the name in your mind. Fred likes to fish, Margarita runs a bar--you get the idea. "You have to search in the moment for something familiar," says Spiegel. "It's a simple trick, but it just sticks."

Word Play. Let the words do the work for you. Mnemonic devices (Dale works in sales) work nicely, as does alliteration (Joann from Jersey).

Speak Up. Embarrassing as it seems, don't be afraid to ask someone to repeat his or her name. Start out with a compliment, such as "I've had so much fun talking with you, and I've completely forgotten your name." If you realize you've blanked on a name a few seconds after introduction, just say: "I'm sorry, I missed your name."

Once you've gotten over the hurdle of remembering someone's name, you might face the added dilemma of not knowing whether to address the person by a first or last name. Spiegel recommends starting with the person's last name followed by a flattering comment and a casual introduction, such as "Mrs. Smith, I'm such an admirer of yours. My name is Susan." The person just might respond, "Nice to meet you. I'm Mary."

Problem solved.

1. Coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the American diet

While fruits and veggies are still the richest sources of antioxidants, it turns out that for Americans, coffee is the main
basis of antioxidant consumption (according to the Institute of Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University).
Black tea and bananas came in second and third place, respectively. Surprisingly,
both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee provide similar amounts of antioxidants.

2. Coffee increases your metabolism

Studies also show that coffee is very beneficial in terms of weight loss. It is a common misconception that coffee is an
appetite suppressant, however, your morning cup can significantly speed up metabolism by about 10 percent.
The National Research Council on Diet and Health found that metabolic rates will be highest during the first
three hours following consumption. Just make sure to skip the added sugars, syrups,
and whipped toppings found in many store-bought coffee drinks.

3. Coffee can improve short-term memory

According to studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, caffeine is a cognitive stimulant
that actually boosts brain functioning. Furthermore, coffee reduces levels of beta amyloid,
a protein in the brain that is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Coffee lowers the rates of some cancers

According to WebMD, coffee drinkers are 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer. By drinking 2 cups per day,
you’re also slashing your risk of getting colon cancer by 25 percent. Some studies have also
found ties to lower rates of breast and skin cancers as well.

5. Coffee can reduce risk for Type 2 diabetes

WebMD also asserts that coffee contains chemicals that lower blood sugar, making heavy coffee drinkers half
as likely to get diabetes as light to non-coffee drinkers. 1-3 cups per day can reduce the risk for diabetes
by single digits, but people who drink 6 cups or more per day can slash their chances by up to 54 percent.

6. Coffee is actually good for your teeth

We all know that one of the biggest cons of drinking coffee is a stained smile, but the beverage can also have a positive
effect on teeth. According to a 2009 article published in the Wall Street Journal, people who drink coffee are
less likely to have cavities. Roasted coffee beans have antibacterial effects against microorganisms
like Streptococcus, which play a hand in causing tooth decay.

7. Coffee can help prevent/stop headaches

Have you ever wondered why caffeine is one of the main ingredients in migraine medication like Excedrin Migraine?
WebMD explains that blood vessels increase in size during a migraine-- caffeine works to decrease the size
of blood vessels before they can affect nerves in the brain. So, drinking coffee in the early
stages of a headache can help minimize the severity later on.