We talked to Gary Taubes, an expert on obesity and author of the book "Why We Get Fat." He already explained that exercise definitely isn't the only cure for obesity.
We asked him about the main dietary ingredient that will help people avoid gaining excessive weight.
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This one ingredient is making a lot of Americans fat
Sarah Palin is selling her ultra-lavish 8,000-square-foot Arizona compound for $2.4 million
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is putting her enormous Scottsdale, Arizona, mansion up for sale.
The nearly 5-acre gated compound includes an enormous 8,000-square-foot main house flanked by a full-size lighted basketball court, a pool and spa house, and a hot tub.
The home last changed hands in 2011 for $1.695 million, according to public records obtained by the LA Times. Assuming Palin was the most recent buyer, and the house sells for at least its asking price, she'll make a tidy profit.
Richard F. Barker of Keller Williams Arizona Realty has the listing.
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Sarah Palin's gigantic Arizona ranch is now up for sale, hitting the market for $2.4 million.
It's a gated estate with room for six cars in its huge garage.
As you walk the wrap-around driveway, you get a sense of just how large the estate is.
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An exercise scientist reveals the fastest, most significant way to lose weight with minimal effort
So you want to lose a few pounds.
You've heard the mantra: "Eat right. Work out."
But when it comes down to it, which one of those things will make a bigger difference in helping you achieve your weight-loss goals?
Is it really better to hit the gym four times this week or to order a salad instead of fries at lunch?
We asked Philip Stanforth, a professor of exercise science at the University of Texas and the executive director of the Fitness Institute of Texas, whether diet or fitness was more important for weight loss, and his answer surprised us.
"Studies tend to show that in terms of weight loss, diet plays a much bigger role than exercise," said Stanforth.
Here's why:
Exercise requires time and consistent effort, and it takes longer to see its results, said Stanforth. It also burns far fewer calories— and takes more time — than most people think. Alternatively, there are several high-sugar, high-fat, high-calorie foods that we can cut from our diets to see a pretty big change in our waistline, sometimes in a fairly short time period.
Stanforth puts it this way:
"You'd have to walk 35 miles to burn 3,500 calories. That's a lot of walking. But if you look at eating, a Snickers bar might have, say, 500 calories. It's going to be a lot easier to cut the Snickers bar than to do 5 miles of walking every day." (A single Snickers bar is about 220 calories, while a Snickers '2-to-go' is 440.)
Several studies back up Stanforth's suggestion.
One large review of 20 studies involving more than 3,000 people published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 found that high-protein diets and meal replacements (low-calorie substitutes for heavier meals) were linked with better outcomes in terms of helping people keep weight off after a reduced-calorie diet period when compared with exercise. And a 2011 review looking at the relationship between fat mass and physical activity in kids concluded that being active is likely not the key determinant in unhealthy weight in children.
Still, exercise may come into play later on. Other studies, for example, suggest that people who lose weight and keep it off eat right and work out regularly.
Plus, exercise has other benefits, from helping to boost our mood and protect our bodies from the detrimental effects of aging to helping us manage the symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. And building and maintaining muscle can often mean your body will actually burn more calories throughout the day.
So if you want to lose weight in 2016, consider adjusting your diet. And if you want to keep it off, get moving.
DON'T MISS: 11 fitness 'truths' that are doing more harm than good
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NOW WATCH: Turns out exercise might not be a cure for weight gain
A park in the Dominican Republic offers unlimited ziplining for $3
Ziplining through the caves of the Dominican Republic should be on every traveler's bucket list.
Just outside the town of Cabrera on the island's northern shores, adventure seekers can zip line at Lago Dudu, a public swimming hole that's perfect for vacationers looking to step off the beaten path, as visitors to the park are in equal parts locals and tourists.
The best part? For an only $3 entrance fee, patrons enjoy unlimited ziplining and swimming in the parks multiple lagoons.
Story and editing by Adam Banicki
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SEE ALSO: This pro surfer moved to the Dominican Republic and opened a kiteboarding resort
Can these 36 questions make you fall in love?
Earlier this year the New York Times published a quiz of 36 questions that will allegedly cause people to fall in love.
It's based on a psychological study that sought to find whether strangers can become intimate faster thanks to specific questions.
The questions are broken up into three sets, and become increasingly personal. The idea behind this is that in showing vulnerability, and sharing intimate thoughts and memories, people inevitably become closer.
Prolonged eye contact doesn't hurt either, as the last part of this experiment involves a four-minute stare-off.
Let's see if it works...
Story by Sophie-Claire Hoeller and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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SEE ALSO: Women pay more than men for 'lady' versions of identical products
Russians can now buy a perfume to smell like Vladimir Putin
Russians are now able to buy a perfume called "Leaders," which its creator said is inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The composition that we created was made to be warm and well-rounded, and I would call it 'uniting,'" Vladislav Rekunov, the perfume's creator, told Reuters. "It's not an aggressive scent, rather, it's attractive, matter-of-fact, and natural."
Story by Allan Smith and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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SEE ALSO: The chillest guy in Hawaii almost flew a drone into Obama's motorcade
How luxury shoppers are changing the face of retail
Luxury shoppers are highly coveted customers for brands and retailers. The top 10% of US household earners (those taking home $120,000 or more annually) account for approximately half of all consumer expenditures.
This demographic’s growing preference for online shopping is changing the face of luxury retail, and it has significant implications for how brands target luxury consumers.
In a new report from BI Intelligence, we profile the luxury shopper and take a close look at the spending habits and preferences of high-income earners — including how and where they shop.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
- Discretionary spending among the wealthy is growing faster than for the average US consumer. Discretionary spending among those earning $120,000 a year or more is expected to increase 6.6% in 2016, reaching $406 billion, according to YouGov. Among the top 1%, it's expected to rise 10%. By contrast, discretionary spending for the average US consumer dropped 1% between 2014 and 2015.
- Wealthy consumers are expected to spend the most next year on fashion, travel, and dining. Among these categories, spending on fashion (specifically, apparel, accessories, and handbags) will grow the most, increasing 6.9% to $37.4 billion (roughly 9% of total discretionary spending).
- Luxury brands are over-allocating ad spend to print media. The seven largest US luxury brands collectively spent $133 million last year on holiday ad spending, 57% of which was allocated to magazine ads, according to the Shullman Research Center. But among luxury shoppers, recall rates are higher for digital ads.
- There are signs that luxury shopping is less brand- and status-oriented than it once was. Luxury shoppers, like the average consumer, enjoy the convenience and low prices of online retailers like Amazon vs. shopping via official brand sites. Luxury shopping may become even more price-sensitive as millennials age.
In full, the report:
- Sizes the market for personal luxury goods, by country.
- Measures the effectiveness of luxury marketing channels.
- Breaks down ad spend among luxury brands.
- Identifies where luxury consumers shop online and in-store.
Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:
- Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now
- Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >>Learn More Now
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Happy couples have these 3 things in common
Esther Perel is a renowned relationship expert who has worked with hundreds of couples around the world.
During her countless sessions with all different kinds of couples, Perel noticed a few key factors that happy relationships have in common:
1. They remain curious about each other
"Couples that are really thriving continue to be curious about each other. They don't claim to already know the other person. They don't pretend they know what you're going to say before you even open your mouth."
2. They are genuinely happy for their partner
"They also are people who are really able to treasure the happiness of the other even if it has nothing to do with them. I'm happy for you, for what's happening to you. That is generous, it is kind, and it really makes anybody want to come home for that matter."
3. They maintain their own personal lives in a relationship
"They also are people who respect a lot of the individuality of each person. Meaning, they are couples who often have quite a large space where each person has worlds of their own... inner worlds of thought, of pursuits, hobbies, passions, or friendships. Rather than hungry people who each are trying to feed off each other."
"Those three elements, the freedom, the happiness for the other, and the admiration are essential elements of striving relationships," Perel concludes.
Watch the video above to hear Perel's full analysis.
Story by Aly Weisman, editing by Chelsea Pineda and Alana Kakoyiannis
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SEE ALSO: A relationship expert explains why happy couples cheat
Prince William explains how fatherhood changed his perspective on life
Prince William had his second child, Princess Charlotte, in 2015. In a new interview, he said that having kids made him look at life differently.
"I am a lot more emotional than I used to be," Prince William said. "I never used to kind of... sort of get wound up by things, but now the smallest little things, I well up a little bit more."
Prince William added that it has also changed how he reacts to world events.
"You get affected by things that happen around the world or whatever, a lot more I think as a father, just because you realize how precious life is, and it puts it all in perspective, you know, the idea of not being around to see your children grow up," he added.
Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Kristen Griffin
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SEE ALSO: Carrie Fisher had a great response to people body shaming her
Twins who were born 3 minutes apart were officially born in different years
Jaelyn and Luis Salgado, twin sister and brother, were born in different years.
The twins' mother, Maribel, gave birth on New Year's Eve. Jaelyn was delivered at 11:59 p.m. on December 31st, 2015, and Luis was born three minutes later, at 12:02 a.m. on January 1st, 2016.
The nurse on duty told Reuters she hadn't seen anything like it in 34 years.
Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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SEE ALSO: Jerry Seinfeld got real with President Obama about being famous
This new app may get a lot more people reading thanks to one genius feature
These photos deconstruct common junk foods, and they're weirdly disturbing
Eschliman and Ettlinger demystify 75 of the most common food additives by revealing what each additive looks like, and where it comes from, as well as why it is used as an ingredient.
Republished with permission from "Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products" by Dwight Eschliman and Steve Ettlinger. Photography Copyright © 2015 by Dwight Eschliman. Reprinted with permission with Regan Arts. All rights reserved.
Hostess Twinkie
Campbell's Chunky Chicken Soup
Caffeine
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Tom Cruise is reportedly selling his enormous English country estate for $7.4 million
Tom Cruise is reportedly selling another one of his real estate properties.
In what would be the fifth property either listed for sale or sold in the last three years, an English country mansion rumored to be owned by Cruise just listed for $7.4 million, according to Variety.
The enormous house contains 11,000 square feet of space and six bedrooms spread across four floors. Amenities include an underground parking garage, guest houses, a screening room, and even a gym.
The mansion is located in the middle of West Sussex county park land, which Variety notes is close to Scientology's British headquarters.
Savills has the listing.
SEE ALSO: Sarah Palin is selling her ultra-lavish 8,000-square-foot Arizona compound for $2.4 million
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Smack in the middle of the English countryside is the manor home known only as Rede Place.
Rumored to be owned by Tom Cruise, the home is an absolutely enormous 11,000 square feet.
It was constructed brand-new in 2003 after a Victorian-era residence that once stood here was torn down.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
The most surprising ways to master 12 essential life skills
If you haven't mastered some of the most essential life skills already, it may be time to take a different approach.
Whether you're looking to improve your memory or overcome your procrastination (no, it can't wait), here are 12 surprising ways you can master some essential life skills.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Here's what a hiring manager scans for when reviewing résumés
19 tiny life changes you can make right now for a healthier year
So you've resolved to be healthier this year. Congratulations! Now, how are you planning to keep that resolution?
Luckily, there are some relatively small changes you can make to your life right now to start living healthier.
We've put together a list of some of them. Read on to start your healthier life!
READ NEXT: 3 science-backed ways to keep your New Year's resolutions
NOW CHECK OUT: A Harvard psychiatrist says 3 things are the secret to real happiness
Eat fruit instead of candy.
Candy is sweet because it contains processed sugar, usually high fructose corn syrup. Fruit is sweet because it contains natural sugar, but it's still good for you because it's also rich in fiber, which helps you digest the sugar more slowly.
Shop on a full stomach.
Studies show that people who snack before a grocery trip buy fewer unhealthy foods, possibly because they aren't driven to make impulse buys out of hunger.
While you're at it, learn how to cook.
Studies have shown that dieting doesn't work, because cutting out entire foods only makes you want to eat more of them. But cooking at home is linked to eating healthier, saving money on dining out, and boosting self-esteem.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
A teacher had an epic dance session with his students
Ron Clark is an educator who employs a progressive style of teaching at his Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. Clark, who was Disney's American Teacher of the Year in 2000 and has been on Oprah, believes that creating a joyous educational environment will help kids learn best.
"Teachers should be happy," he told Oprah last year. "When you're in a good mood, studies have shown the students are going to be more likely to remember and believe what you say."
To that end, Clark posted a video of himself and a handful of students throwing down a dance routine in school. It was viewed more than two million times in less than 48 hours.
They have some serious moves.
Story by Tony Manfred and editing by Alana Yzola
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SEE ALSO: Twins who were born 3 minutes apart were officially born in different years
A man with no arms learned to master the guitar with his feet
Mark Goffeney was born with no arms, but that didn't stop him from pursuing his passion: playing the guitar.
Since mastering guitar-playing with his feet, Goffeney has opened for Tom Petty, Journey, and Rush, and has become a YouTube sensation. But for him, nothing compares to seeing the audience's reaction to his performances, and thus he often performs in front of huge crowds in his hometown of San Diego.
"Sometimes when I'm performing live I get a reaction from the audience where I can tell that they are totally with me. It's in their face. It's in their movement. It's in their smiles. And there's no feeling like that," Goffeney said.
Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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SEE ALSO: How to run in heels
This man's life changed forever when a stranger gave him a guitar 15 years ago — now he's trying to find him
Arnold Nesis wanted to be a musician his whole life. However, his parents didn't like that plan, so he had to find himself a guitar that he could play.
The only problem was, he had no money.
"I go on eBay. I'm emailing people saying, 'Hi, I'm this poor guy from Israel. If your guitar doesn't sell, can you send it to me?'" Nesis said in a YouTube video that's going viral. "So I send, like, 20 emails, and 18 people just ignore me. One guy writes to me, 'Hi, I'm a Jew, too, this is my present to you for Hanukkah.'"
After receiving the guitar, Nesis became a professional musician, composing music for video games. Now, he wants to thank the stranger and pay him back, and is enlisting the internet's help.
"I really don't think this would have happened if it wasn't for this guy that I don't really know and this guitar. Fifteen years later, I think it's time I pay him back for his guitar," Nesis declared.
His only clue? The guitar he received 15 years ago has the name "Bill Doran" carved on the back of it.
You can contact Nesis at arnoldnesis@gmail.com or facebook.com/arnoldnesis.
Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
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Take a tour of the stunning Chinese art festival that stretches more than 112 football fields of pure ice
If Elsa from "Frozen" ever needs help building her ice castles, she might want to check out the talent behind the Harbin Ice Festival.
The annual event, held in the city of Harbin in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province, boasts some seriously impressive ice and snow art built to monumental scale.
It took 10,000 workers and three months of design work to construct the massive exhibition, which covers more than 112 football fields. Now in its 32nd year, the festival is a tourist favorite despite the sub-zero temperatures.
Elsa, eat your heart out.
SEE ALSO: 10 extravagant ski lodges that will bring your vacation to the next level
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Fireworks light up the sky behind the brilliantly colored ice palace on the opening day of the festival, January 5.
Brightly colored lights illuminate the fantastical structures.
Visitors admire the many spires and turrets. The largest tower stands at 36.5 meters, or nearly 120 feet, tall.
Source: Xinhua
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The 3 classic tie knots every modern gentleman should know
Your tie can really accentuate an outfit and send a message of confidence. Here's how to tie three classic knots.
Produced by Justin Gmoser
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