FORWARDTHINKING
NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
By Marta Bright, Bobbie Hartman, Chris Null, Kate Pavao, and Patricia Waddington
ELIJAH MERCHÁN
THE RED WINE DIET
TO YOU R
Drinking red wine may be able to prevent
heart disease and diabetes—and help you live
to become a well-aged vintage yourself. At least
that’s what Roger Corder, a professor of Experimental Therapeutics at the William Harvey Rese arch Institute in
London—and red wine fan—says in his book The Red Wine
Diet. Corder says these benefits are due to a group of natural
grape compounds called procyanidins.
But not all red wines are created equal, and their procyanidins content can vary greatly. So how ca n you choose a red
wine with the greatest health benefits? “At a restaurant,
if the sommelier can’t be very informative, you
want to start asking for the wines that are firmer
in tannins,” Corder tells Profit. “If you’ve got an uninformed sommelier who can’t tell you that, you probably
should look at the Cabernet Sauvignons, which are more likely to
be tannic than not.” Also, he says, stay away from wines with a
HEALTH
higher alcohol content.
Don’t like red wine? Never fear. Procyanidins
are present in plenty of other sources, such as apples
and berries—even chocolate. In fact, in the recipe section
at the back of Corder’s book, only two meals use red wine as
an ingredient (because the benefits can be lost in the cooking
process). Instead, says Corder, “The wine should be enjoyed
with the meal.”
Every business traveler knows that staying healthy on the
road can be tricky, but don’t be fooled into thinking a Cabernet
a day will keep the doctor away. In The Red Wine Diet,
Corder advises a Mediterranean-style approach to
eating, with lots of fresh foods and olive oil—as
well as plenty of exercise. “This isn’t a quick-weight-
loss diet,” he says. “It’s about having a strategy to improve
your overall well-being, which allows you to drink wine and eat
chocolate in moderation.”
BON VOYAGE, BON APPÉTIT
LINDY GROENING
If you’d like to combine a lust for travel with the chance to Nestled among the stately homes, beautiful woodlands, and
sharpen your culinary skills, Paris might be the obvious choice. vast waterways of County Fermanagh, you’ll find the Belle Isle
But for those peripatetic chefs who’d like to go off the beaten School of Cookery. Although the school is on a country estate,
path to hone their culinary talents, here are some suggestions: the atmosphere in the kitchen is relaxed and informal. Courses
The Thai Cooking School at the Oriental Hotel introduce you to some of Northern Ireland’s most exciting and
Bangkok, Thailand innovative culinary ideas. Don’t fret if you’re not an experienced
www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/510000256.asp cook: participants with any level of cooking ability are welcome.
For the past 15 years, the Oriental Thai Cooking School The Rhode School of Cuisine
has taught people all over the world the methods and ingre- Marrakech, Morocco
dients that make up fine Thai cuisine. The school offers www.cuisineinternational.com/index2.html?/schools
hands-on classes where you’ll grind pastes, chop meats and The House of Green Mint offers a cultural as well as culinary
vegetables, stir-fry, stew, and finally sample exploration of Moroccan cuisine. You’ll learn about the
your delicious creations. exotic combinations of spices and techniques that
Belle Isle School of Cookery make up the traditional dishes. When
County Fermanagh, Northern you’re not in the kitchen, you can enjoy
Ireland camel riding, trips to the local market,
www.irishcookeryschool.com and relaxing in a Turkish steam bath.
