The Ultimate Tea Diet: How Tea Can Boost Your Metabolism, Shrink Your Appetite, and Kick-Start Remarkable Weight Loss [Paperback] Review

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!

Book Review: The Ultimate Tea Diet by Mark Ukra

Tea, the ancient beverage of the Chinese discovered by emperor Shen Nung, 2737 BC, carried by Silk Road caravans to the West (618-907 AD), popularized in Europe by the Dutch East India Trading Company (1600's AD), and taxed by King George III to the dissent of the Bostonians (1773 AD), has become a billion dollar business. The Tea Association of the United States estimates that in 1990 the estimated wholesale value of the United States Tea Industry was $1.84 billion and had risen to $6.50 billion in 2006. In 2006 Americans drank over 50 billion servings of tea (2.25 billion gallons), 85% of the drinks were over ice, 83% of it black tea, 16% green, and the remainder oolong. The majority of regular consumers of tea reside in the South and the Northeast. Prepared in the home, a cup of tea costs around three cents per serving.j0424438.jpg

Mark Ukra, author of The Ultimate Tea Diet, has a familial history with tea. Dating back at least 200 years to Baghdad, his ancestors were wholesale distributors of tea from the Far East. His family relocated to the United States in 1950, and Mark--also known as "Dr. Tea"--has carried on the flame. When it comes to tea, he is an expert. He relates what tea really is:

Tea, whether black, white, green, or oolong, is a product of the Camellia sinensis plant. A tisane, recently popularized, looks like tea and perhaps tastes like the beverage, but is not a derivative of the tea plant.

White tea, known as the "Tea of Royals" undergoes little processing, no oxidation, has the least amount of caffeine, tastes mild, and was introduced to the West in the 1990's, (China 618-907 AD).

Green tea has low levels of caffeine and is the drink of choice in China and Japan.

Oolong tea is known as the "Champagne of Teas," and has a deep aroma and subtle flavor. Unlike green and white teas, it is slightly fermented.

Black tea is oxidized the longest, has the most caffeine of the four teas, and is known in China as red tea--referring to the liquid's color. Westerners call it black due to the color of the tea leaves themselves. 75% of tea produced in the world is black. 83%-87% of all tea drunk in the United States is black tea.

Mark Ukra extols the virtues of tea, explaining that it is okay to drink the beverage all day long. Tea contains low doses of caffeine, (A cup of black tea contains half the amount of caffeine of a cup of coffee.) which acts as a natural stimulant, boosting thermogenesis in the body--the beginning of burning fat molecules. Energy is used and calories are burned.

Tea contains two other secret ingredients. The second, he states is L-Theanine, produced almost exclusively by Camellia sinensis. A non-protein based amino acid is secreted from the small intestine into the blood going to the brain, stimulating alpha brain waves. A state of relaxed alertness is achieved, removing the potentially jittery effects of the caffeine on the brain. Stress levels and cortisol production are lowered, reducing fat storage.

Secret ingredient number three is the catechin EGCG--the chemical compound Epigallocatechin-3-gallate. In a subclass of polyphenols, it is known for its antioxidant properties, preventing oxidative damage of cells within the body. Combined with caffeine and L-Theanine, EGCG has been shown to promote weight loss. EGCG's other benefits include reducing triglycerides before being deposited into fat tissue, modulating insulin secretion,and improving insulin's effectiveness.

Tea also contains flavonoids (316 milligrams in a cup of green tea, 268 milligrams in a cup of black tea), revving the immune system. Mark Ukra says that one type of tea is not necessarily better than another because each contains different types of catechins. Studies have shown tea to be effective against bacterial infections, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, dry mouth, tumors, cavities and plaque, skin disorders, osteoporosis, and various cancers. Tea consumption improves the results of some chemo drugs, blood pressure, good HDL cholesterol, and reduces the likelihood of a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.

Most recently, studies suggest that green tea may protect brain cells against Parkinson's Disease, prevent the bladder from becoming inflamed, and show an antitumor effect specifically in breast cancer.

Water is the most consumed beverage in the world.The second is tea and its benefits are many.Find the flavors you enjoy and drink them throughout the day.

5 Stars

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Ultimate Tea Diet: How Tea Can Boost Your Metabolism, Shrink Your Appetite, and Kick-Start Remarkable Weight Loss [Paperback]

Want to buy The Ultimate Tea Diet: How Tea Can Boost Your Metabolism, Shrink Your Appetite, and Kick-Start Remarkable Weight Loss [Paperback] at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below: