EDMONDS, Washington (STPNS) -- Too often, it’s the finer things that will get you.

It’s almost as if something is good or fun, then it’s bad for you.

That’s no longer true though.

Dr. Richard A. Baxter, who was voted Favorite Plastic Surgeon in KING-TV’s Evening Magazine “Best of Western Washington” poll, has just released a new book titled “Age Gets Better With Wine.”

The book explains how drinking red wine in moderation can help you live a healthier, better and longer life.

Dr. Baxter has done no studies. What he’s done is research a large number of studies from all over the world, and gathered the results of those studies together.



As a plastic surgeon, Baxter was a natural to make the connection between the results of studies involving wine.

“Because I’m a plastic surgeon, I’m involved with anti-aging,” Baxter said. “I’m pre-disposed to drinking wine, and I’d always find these signs leading to anti-aging or health benefits.

“Once I saw the way the information all came together, I saw a message that no one else was telling.”

Many different doctors and studies have made a connection to red wine and health, but Dr. Baxter has connected the dots to a large number of studies and health benefits.

“Everyone makes their own connection,” Baxter said, “But someone who looks at anti-aging globally can make the connection globally – can see the big picture.”

Those connections seem to be getting more diverse all the time.  

Baxter not only connects the benefits of red wine with anti-aging but also heart disease and cardiovascular health, arthritis, hypertension, certain cancers, enhanced mental function as the brain ages (memory loss and Alzheimer’s) and diet.

Many of these studies concentrate on a particular ingredient in wine, resveratrol, which has also become popular in pill form.

Baxter explains why pills containing resveratrol are not effective, but red wine is.

Baxter isn’t breaking new ground with this book. He’s been an advocate of drinking wine for health for a long time.

“I gave my first lecture on wine and health in 2002,” he said. “I just hope some people can be enlightened on things they can do to improve both their health and their quality of life.”

Baxter also addresses the fact that drinking alcohol can be bad for you, and weighs the comparative values of drinking a glass or two of red wine a day for your health or not.

“We can always mix messages about drinking,” Baxter said. “But we need to look at what has been written and bring some pure science to it.”

There are also a lot of interesting facts in the book, such as the fact that wine drinkers perform better in cognitive testing than non-drinkers.

Dr. Baxter makes his case, and makes it well. The book contains some technical terms, but is written so those of us without medical and chemistry degrees can understand what is being said.

If you’re a “doubting Thomas” all of the studies mentioned are referenced in detail in the back.

What’s clear is that Baxter has done his homework. He’s made the connection between drinking moderate amounts of red wine daily and better health.

He’s also made a very entertaining read. It’s a good book.

It’s available at Amazon and Barnes &Noble.

Dr. Baxter has been practicing in the Edmonds area for the past 20 years.

He's been named Favorite Plastic Surgeon in Western Washington in KING5-Tv's Best of Western Washington annual poll.

Besides being a top-rated, board certified plastic surgeon, Baxter's credentials include being a member of the Emerging Trends Committee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a former faculty member of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Chief Medical Officer of Seattle-based Calidora Skin Clinics, and Medical Director of Healthy Aging.

Dr. Baxter has been featured in Elle, WebMD, New Beauty and Spa magazine, and in a recent issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal.