Strip Tea-se

Address: 8612 Melrose Ave. [ map ]

Cross Street: Between Huntley Dr. and Westbourne Dr.

Neighborhood: West Hollywood

Phone: 310-657-9300

Hours: Mon 10am-8pm, Tues-Sun 10am-10pm

Type: Shopping & Beauty, Books, Music, Video, Food, Drink Shops

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When you need to cure a problem, you see a doctor. If you’re suffering from chronic diet failure, consult Dr. Tea. Dr. Tea, whose real name is Mark Ukra, is the author of The Ultimate Tea Diet, a new book that’s flying off the shelves as people look for a weight-loss plan that actually works.

Dr. Tea advises dieters to find a tea they like and drink it all day long, hot or iced. In combination with healthy meals and moderate exercise, dieters in a test group lost an average of 18 pounds and 14 inches.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s an economy blend from a big-box store or a premium tea from a quaint boutique, such as Dr. Tea’s own West Hollywood tea sanctuary www.teagarden.com. It just has to be authentic black, green, white or oolong tea, all of which are derived from the same Camellia sinesis plant. The plant’s rare combination of caffeine, antioxidants and other natural ingredients works to boost metabolism, burn fat and suppress appetite.

Here’s the fine print. First, you have to drink real tea. Rooibos or red tea has some health benefits but it comes from a different plant and doesn’t have the same properties. Ditto for what is commonly known as “herb tea.”

The fine print gets boldfaced with this qualifier: you have to be ready to change your habits, mentality and lifestyle. Choose to put on tea-colored glasses and allow your perspective to change as your waistline shrinks.

If you think you can’t give up your favorite treat, Dr. Tea has a prescription to satisfy your cravings. “Candy bar” black tea, “pineapple coconut pie” white tea and “peach pie” green tea are among the five-calorie alternatives. Take two or more cups and feel guiltless in the morning.

The tea diet book contains life-changing testimonials by members of the test group and creative, healthy, tea-centric recipes to help you get ready for your bikini season strip tea-se.

Just what the doctor ordered.

BY ANDREA ADLEMAN >LA.COM

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Strip Tea-se

When you need to cure a problem, you see a doctor. If you’re suffering from chronic diet failure, consult Dr. Tea. Dr. Tea, whose real name is Mark Ukra, is the author of The Ultimate Tea Diet, a new book that’s flying off the shelves as people look for a weight-loss plan that actually works.