Author Archives: diamondsonyourinside

Supplement Your Way to SHINE — Our Top Recommendations!

Posted on October 8, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Supplement Your Way to SHINE — Our Top Recommendations!

The right supplements give your body the turbo boost it needs to stay healthy and strong. BUT! All supplements aren’t created equal. Because of this, we’ve compiled our full guide to must-have supplements, just for you.

Head over to PICKUP your supplements or place an order for DELIVERY today!

Getting the right nutrients used to come easier. Today, soil depletion, industrial farming, pesticides, and the air itself puts a HUGE strain on our food supply (and our bodies)! The right kind of supplements give your body the turbo boost it needs to stay healthy and strong. But all supplements aren’t created equal. Fortunately, we’ve got the good ones at The GEM and can coach you on what to look for.

Six GEM-Approved Supplements To Save the Day

MULTIVITAMIN. Look for vitamins naturally derived from food, and preferably organic ingredients. We carry some awesome brands for men, women, pre- or post-menopausal, prenatal and more.
PROBIOTICS. Fact: 70 percent of our immune system is housed in our digestive tract—which can be compromised by stress, poor eating, and antibiotics. The right kind of probiotics replenish healthy bacteria, improving digestion and overall mental and physical health.
VITAMIN D3. This multitasker supports immune function and can reduce your risk of breast cancer by as much as 50 percent! It aids calcium absorption and plays a central role in muscle function.
OMEGA 3 FISH OIL. Omega 3s greatly reduce inflammation in your body, support brain and heart function, and treat rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and ADHD. It’s our all-star anti-inflammation supplement.
TURMERIC BLEND. With a mix of potent detoxifiers, our blend amps up the body’s natural ability to remove harmful compounds and decrease inflammation.
COLLAGEN. Talk about a badass Fountain of Youth: It gives our skin strength and elasticity, lines our digestive tract, and forms the building blocks of joints and tendons. However, collagen production slows as we age. Alleviate the sagging skin, digestive issues and joint pain with consistent supplementation!

Want better overall health? Optimal brain function? Stronger immune system? Supplements help your body REPLENISH the necessary amount of dietary nutrients it needs EVERY DAY! This benefit is so vitally important, especially if you’re skipping meals or, worse, eating over-processed foods on the run! But remember—supplements are just ONE important component of a healthy, GEMMy lifestyle that includes the right amount of exercise, sleep and better nutrition. So stop by and stock up on your supplements today!

10 Teen-Approved HEALTHY Summer Snacks

Posted on August 7, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on 10 Teen-Approved HEALTHY Summer Snacks

Those hungry teenagers eating you out of house and home? Don’t order Dominos just yet! We’ve got a few yummy, homemade ideas to keep them happy on snacks that are filling, fun and most importantly, HEALTHY.

NEED SNACKS NOW? ORDER GREEN BITES, JUICES & SMOOTHIES FOR PICKUP & DELIVERY!

The biggest key to eating healthy is to BE PREPARED! When you hit the grocery store or visit The GEM, pick up these staples to keep on hand for when hunger strikes this summer.

10 Summer Snacks For Hungry & Healthy Teens

CHIP DIP STATION! Siete Tortilla chips surrounded with a fun array of dips! Siete also makes an amazing, plant-based queso blanco that is really tasty! Add guacamole, GEM Pico, Rick’s Salsa, and GEM Jalapeno Pesto. Don’t forget our Badass 3 Bean Salad with corn chip dippers, too!
VEGGIE PLATE with carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes. Add a ramekin of our GEM Hummus, Ranch AND Jalapeño Pesto for the best dipping trio. The secret is to douse the carrot medallions and cucumbers with lots of fresh lime juice and sea salt. Don’t skip over this one! It’s magic.
SMOOTHIES. Pick up a few frozen smoothie kits from The GEM (our Maui GEM with pineapple, banana, orange and coconut is a crowd pleaser), or make your own at home with this perfectly simple, lightning-fast recipe:
- Add 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice, 1 frozen banana, 1.5 cup of fruit to the blender and ENJOY! Frozen, organic strawberries and blueberries work best.
ITALIAN PLATTER with chunks of parmesan cheese, nitrate free salami (my kids like Naturalissimo Milano style), Milton GF crackers, gherkin pickles, grape tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt, hummus topped with basil pesto. BAM!
FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SLICES. Sandwich your favorite brand of organic peanut butter in between sliced bananas, then freeze. Dip in melted chocolate for an added treat.
FROZEN GRAPES (Warning: highly addicting snack!). Simply freeze and eat!
AVOCADO TOAST sprinkled with cayenne, sea salt, and a little lemon, served on grain bread (Killer Dave’s makes the best!). Cut into quarters. PRO TIP: Let your avocados ripen on the counter, then put in the fridge—they will keep for much longer!
GRANOLA PARFAITS. What’s cool about these is you can make a few in small, 6-oz. mason jars and your teens can pop them out whenever they are ready! Here’s how we assemble them:
- Begin with a little granola on bottom, layer with plain Greek yogurt—or try an amazing dairy-free, plant-based option like from Kite Hill or Siggi’s. Milk & Patience is local and has the most amazing vegan yogurts, too!
- Layer berries. Raspberries, sliced strawberries, blueberries…don’t be shy!
- Add more granola. One of our favorite granola brands Park Lane Pantry, a local company with amazing flavors—including a new chocolate flavor, too!
- Top with a drizzle of maple syrup, honey or agave, a little extra fruit, and enjoy!
EDAMAME. Just pour the frozen bag into boiling water for a couple minutes, drain, and add coarse sea salt. Try sprinkling with Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Salt.
BONUS SNACK IDEAS! Always have these items on hand for when you find yourself in a pinch:
- Hard boiled eggs.
- Nut butter with apples.
- Organic popcorn made with coconut oil and sea salt.

Give yourself a variety of choices and healthy snacking doesn’t have to be boring. Whether it’s one or two of these each week, make it a habit of stashing a few of these items at the house. The key is to choose healthy snacks that will fill them up and help nourish your teens without adding too many calories. Try and you’ll see—our top ten teen-approved list of healthy summer snacks is sure to make you the hit of the summer snacking frenzy!

Happy Summer Snacking!

Poolside Sips & Snacks For A Summer GLOW

Posted on June 29, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Poolside Sips & Snacks For A Summer GLOW

With summer vacations being cancelled left and right this year, it’s shaping up to be a wet, hot, GEMmy summer of lazy days spent by the pool. The good thing about being stuck at home is it gives us more control over our health and daily habits than we would have when traveling. So we’re taking advantage of a summer at home and getting (and KEEPING) our health in check with some deliciously nutritious poolside sips and snacks!

JUMP-START YOUR #SUMMERBOD WITH A GEM CLEANSE! ORDER ONLINE NOW.

Spoiler alert: we might be partial to watermelon and pineapples — the perfect summer refreshers. Anti-inflammatory pineapple aids in digestion, boosts immunity, and accelerates healing, while watermelon hydrates, promotes heart health, lowers inflammation and oxidative stress, AND both keep you feeling light and bright.

Even if your summer destination vacation has been put on hold, celebrate the summer in style with these 3 GEMmy poolside treats.

Homemade Sips & Snacks For A Healthy Summer GLOW

WATERMELON LIME SLUSH

This poolside sipper is super-duper refreshing, a.k.a. summer in a cup!

Ingredients:
– 5 cups diced seedless watermelon (if you have prep time, cut and freeze the cubes!)
– 1 tablespoon agave
– 1 cup ice (unless you use frozen watermelon)
– Juice of 2 limes

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately!

Rather not slice or dice? Grab a few Maui GEM Smoothie Kits to keep on hand, then just add water and blend! It’s the beach in a cup: pineapple, banana, orange, coconut! I can hear the steel drum band right now! (Rum & cabana boy sold separately).

FRESH FRUIT SKEWERS

Ice cold watermelon and pineapple skewers are pretty to look at AND fun to eat. Pop some in the fridge and serve as a poolside snack to keep you cool. You can even add blueberries for more beauty (and help your body reduce DNA damage — a leading driver of aging and cancer!).

For an exotic kick, sprinkle this fresh fruit with Trader’s Joe’s Chile Lime Seasoning Blend — one of our favorite snacks! Pro tip: sprinkle on top of grilled pineapple for a good time. Trust us.

WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD

Elevate your salad game with one of our all-time summer favorites! Honestly, you don’t really have to follow the recipe to make this true GEM of a salad.

Ingredients:
– ½ pound baby arugula
– 2 cups (or more) seedless watermelon, ¾-inch pieces
– ⅓ cup olive oil
– ¼ cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
– 1 teaspoon sea salt
– ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
– Parmesan Reggiano cheese
– ¼ cup pistachios

Directions: Add arugula, pistachios and watermelon in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. Drizzle dressing on the arugula. Toss well. With a very sharp knife or a vegetable peeler, shave parmesan into large shards and sprinkle them on the arugula and watermelon. Sprinkle with salt and serve. BAM!

These healthy homemade summer snacks are three super easy ways to make good choices during swimsuit season. Try them and we’re certain clarity, energy and vibrance are in your very near future — and if you’re still needing a little bit of help, you can always kickstart your way into summer health with a detox cleanse from The GEM.

Stay cool and kind, dear GEMs.

Curbside Pickup + Online Ordering Now Available!

Posted on March 23, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Curbside Pickup + Online Ordering Now Available!

We started the GEM because we care about your health — and that’s true today more than ever. In this critical time amid the COVID-19 outbreak, we’re working hard making GEM-my goods to keep our community healthy, while making sure ordering is easy as can be for our loyal GEMs.

ORDER NOW TO STOCK UP ON ORGANIC JUICES, SMOOTHIES AND GREEN BITES!

The GEM now accepts online orders, right from our website! Immune-boosting, nutrient-dense GEM goodness, right at your fingertips. Call us when you’re ready to pick up and we’ll run it out to you with complimentary curbside pickup!

How To Order Online

Visit the website.
Login to your existing account or create a new one.
Choose your GEM pickup location.
Customize your order + add to cart (for special requests, please call your location).
Check out, click “take out” and select “curbside.”
Add payment method.
Review tip + submit order!

If you aren’t able to drive up to the store or would prefer not to, you can also now order through DoorDash and Favor for no-contact delivery.

GEM Goodness To Stock Up On

Immunity Mix
Immunity Bone Broth (freeze into cubes & enjoy later!)
Allergy Mix
MVP Soup
Juice Growlers

While we aren’t able to offer in-store dining during this time, we know GEM-my foods and drink are critical to your immunity and health — and we’re committed to being there for you in any way we can. We’re all in this together. Wash your hands, stay strong, and remember to SHINE ON.

Eight Years In, We’re Shining Brighter Than Ever (And GROWING)!

Posted on February 5, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 7 Comments on Eight Years In, We’re Shining Brighter Than Ever (And GROWING)!

As we kick off this month celebrating EIGHT AMAZING YEARS of partying under the GEM disco ball, it is so gratifying to reflect on our journey. What started as a simple idea to spread our passion for health has grown and transformed into a powerful GEM community, who are just as excited about sharing the Peace, Happy and the JUICE as we are! We are grateful for each of you who have been part of our journey, and excited to share our plans for growth in the new year.

IN A HURRY? ORDER YOUR DAILY ORGANIC JUICES, SMOOTHIES AND GREEN BITES ON OUR APP!

Celebrating 8 Groovy Years of Peace, Happy, and JUICE!

After my cancer diagnosis years ago, I became obsessed with everything related to food and healthy living. This newfound passion and powerful health discovery was the blueprint that became part of our GEM manifesto. MK and I were convinced that our new, intentional lifestyle was an incredible way to not only heal, but stay healthy for a lifetime. But we wanted to create something bigger than just us massaging kale in my kitchen. How would we do that?

Where We’ve Been: As we looked for places to support our newfound lifestyle, we realized there weren’t any that authentically provided the quality or an environment that we loved. So we put our heads together and laid out what we wanted our dream to look like. This channeling of our creativity and passion together is how The Gem came to be—a place to find “Diamonds on Your Inside.” We set out to create a healthy “Cheers,” and a place to share our passion for a GEM-my life with others.

The GEM is a physical manifestation of who we are—a place to share the habits we’ve lived and learned through our GEM-my journey, where you can change the way you feel, and in doing so change the course of your life as it relates to health (and happiness)! And we’ve LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

What We’ve Learned: We knew next to nothing about the restaurant business when we started back in 2012, but we never let that hold us back. We dug in deep—learning, growing, and dancing as we went along. We’ve learned so much about the importance of community. And you, our GEMs, are more health-savvy than ever before! You’ve discovered firsthand the amazing power of clean food, a plant based, anti-inflammatory and an anti-cancer diet. You are as passionate about health and clean eating as we are, and we couldn’t be happier. You feel better and look better, too! Let’s face it—addicted to feeling better is a great addiction to have.

Our Future Is Looking BRIGHT! We have been learning and growing so much these past eight years, and we want to keep spreading our GEM lifestyle to more corners of Dallas. That’s why we are excited to announce that The GEM will be opening a third location in the coming year! Keep up with our news and subscribe to our email list for more updates and to keep up with our progress.

Our ultimate goal has always been to make people feel better leaving the GEM than when they walked in. And most days, I think we far exceed our goal to make that happen. The quote by Hippocrates on the wall inside The Gem says, “Let Food Be Thy Medicine”. We live by this mantra daily. We never tell you a certain diet to follow, because each of your beautiful bodies are different. We encourage you to know your bodies, applying certain broad GEM principles to your life to open the path towards more health, happiness and healing. That intuitive eating has made you more confident in your health and your choices, and you still choose to come see us each day. This is our story. You’ve made it all possible.

Much much gratitude and admiration,

Leslie & MK

Resolutions NOT To Make This Year (And What To Do Instead!)

Posted on December 30, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Resolutions NOT To Make This Year (And What To Do Instead!)

I don’t know about you, but each year I spend valuable time carefully considering lots of lofty aspirations for the promise of a bright and shiny New Year only to be defeated and lost by mid February. It’s exhausting! Instead of going through this charade again, I propose something a little different this year.

KICKSTART YOUR NEW YEAR WITH A PLATINUM CLARITY OR JUICE ‘TIL DINNER CLEANSE!

To be clear: reflecting on your life and setting goals of self-improvement are critical to an evolved and enriched life, for SURE! But, I don’t want you to make broad statements without simple, realistic action items.

Some GEMmy wisdom for the New Year: Set specific action items that are measurable. Don’t make the resolutions that are too broad, too lofty, or too common to get traction.

New Year’s Resolutions You SHOULDN’T Make

I will lose weight.

I will be more positive.

I will have a better relationship with family/friends/spouse.

I will be healthier.

Sure, these are amazing goals that I’m sure you could accomplish. But reframing your goals a little differently will help you achieve MORE—and help you have much greater success and satisfaction in the new year.

5 GEMmy Goals To Set Instead This Year

Walk daily with a friend. There are too many factors at play when it comes to “losing weight”. You may have to uncover digestive, hormonal, or other health challenges before you can start seeing any results. Instead of setting a goal to simply lose weight, commit to one simple daily activity. Take it one step at a time. If you can’t find time to walk every day, maybe vow to drink a green juice every morning. Or cut out bread and pasta. Or, add one extra green veggie to each meal. These are attainable, measurable, and easy to incorporate with results you can see!

Choose gratitude daily. Forget about simply being more positive. Each morning, write down three things (or more!) you are truly grateful for. It can be as simple as “I am grateful for my hot tea and fuzzy slippers”, or the smile you were given at the red light yesterday, or something truly grand like being grateful for a particular person, recovering from an illness, having financial security, or the presence of your children at dinner. Listing them makes you focus on the positive—because there is always something to be grateful form, even in the most difficult of times. For even MORE gratitude, try reading motivational or personal development books, download inspiring podcasts like Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations, or watch uplifting videos online to work your way out of a negative headspace.
Choose to give yourself GRACE. Choosing to have better relationships is an amazing goal to set, BUT it leaves too many variables in the hands of others. The one thing you can control is how much acceptance you show, because you only hurt yourself when you hold on to anger and resentment. So instead of setting this lofty goal to have better relationships, set out to work on showing yourself grace for things like making a bad financial decision, entering a bad relationship, eating too much over the weekend, or whatever you beat yourself up over. Forgiving others—and yourself—paves the way for better relationships all the way around. Start the process with a date inside The GEM.
Start your day with one healthy option. Don’t just set a goal to be healthier. Instead, what if you just picked ONE thing to add to your routine that could actually make that beautiful body of yours healthier AND stronger?! Try cutting artificial sweeteners out of your coffee or tea. Drink 32 ounces of water upon waking each morning. Or, just keep alcohol limited to Saturday night. Do NOT—I REPEAT, DO NOT go on a diet. Diets are temporary health adjustments, not meant for long-term implementation. Opt for incorporating these healthy lifestyle changes instead, and your mind and body will see long term benefits.
Drink ORGANIC GREEN JUICE daily! Don’t discount this last addition. Daily juicing provides your body with a high dose of nutrients that boosts your health and metabolism, and keeps you well-protected against toxins and disease. You automatically experience more energy, less sugar cravings and see digestion and skin improvements. Starting your day with a healthy juice also puts you in a better frame of mind to make better choices throughout your day! Your first daily juice of the New Year awaits inside The GEM—and if you are feeling really ambitious about the jump into the New Year, reserve a three day Juice Then Dinner Cleanse to help kick start a healthier DECADE!

You can’t change your final destination overnight, but you CAN adjust your sails in the right direction with the right actions. By adding one small thing at a time into your daily routine, you can improve your health, happiness, and hopefully start a change reaction. It’s a new year, and a whole new you. Happy 2020, GEMs!

The REAL 411 On CBD (And Why You Need It!)

Posted on December 10, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on The REAL 411 On CBD (And Why You Need It!)

Got anxiety? Hate that joint pain? Need to SLEEP better? Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is your new R&R BFF! We’ve always had a long lasting love for hemp, and lately we’ve spent hours learning about this new natural remedy for a long list of ailments. Derived from the hemp plant, CBD seems to be everywhere! And I do mean EVERYWHERE. The market is flooded with CBD, making it so confusing to know what is what, that you probably just decide to do nothing! Well, be indifferent no more.

We are proud to carry The Trusted Lab line of products, a local company we believe in!

Looking for extra GEMmy stocking stuffers? Order CBD products for everyone on your gift list!

Still on the fence about this CBD fad? Check out these benefits.

Believe the Hype.

Improved Mood: Better sleep, better mood and less anxiety.
Better Body: Improved blood flow, less joint and muscle pain, inflammation.
Better Skin: Effective treatment for eczema, psoriasis, rosacea.
Faster Recovery: It’s a more powerful antioxidant source than Vitamins C and E, so it defends the body against oxidative stress, helping to improve overall recovery.
Boosted Brain: Fights brain fog and acts as a neuroprotectant.
Eased Chemo Side Effects: Fights nausea, vomiting and pain.

We logged serious time doing research and testing to find the best product for you! And we landed with The Trusted Lab.

Why The Trusted Lab.

Tried, True, and Trusted. Our 100% organic CBD oil product line comes from The Trusted Lab known for their dedication to providing the highest quality, most consistent CBD oil products available—using the highest potency and purest quality ingredients. Made in America, ORGANIC, free of harmful chemicals, and lab tested, this stuff is the best in the industry, hands down.
The Full CBD Spectrum of What You Need. All products we carry inside The GEM are FULL SPECTRUM, which means they contain all of the elements that maximize the bioactivity for optimal results. There are gummies specific to sleep, drops and gel caps for anxiety, cream for local pain relief. Cop yours today, inside The GEM!
No Snoop Doggin’ Here. Don’t fear, dear GEMs—our CBD contains no THC, which is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and causes the sensation of getting “high.” The absence of THC makes our CBD an appealing option for those looking for relief from anxiety, pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs. (*our 750mg gelcaps to contain a tiny trace amount of THC <.03%)

Say goodbye to sleep issues, joint pain, and anxiety, and choose a Trusted Lab CBD product perfect for your needs at the GEM! They make amazing gifts, too (hello, GEMmy stocking stuffers)!

Trusted Lab CBD products available at The GEM

Drops – Full Spectrum 500mg and 1500mg. Awesome for anti-anxiety, nausea, and sleep.

Gel Caps – 300mg and 750mg. Best for managing muscle and joint pain, 750mg for deep sleep!

Gummies – 750mg. Sleepy Time contains added melatonin for the best sleep of your life. Day Time also available. These are amazing and gluten free.

Extra Strength Cream – 200mg. Perfect for relieving local pain, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dry skin.

Special Note: the milligrams noted on the bottles refer to the TOTAL amount, not per dosage.

The Gratitude of 10 Years Cancer-Free

Posted on November 1, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 16 Comments on The Gratitude of 10 Years Cancer-Free

Today was graduation day for me. At my 16th boob check-up, I got the news: another beautifully clear, cancer-free scan — marking 10 years cancer free. Complete remission.

My oncology surgeon — the truly brilliant, and amazingly badass Dr. Marilyn Leitch, announced, “This is your 10 YEAR anniversary. This is a big deal, and a long time coming! How are you going to celebrate?”

The truth is, I won’t. Not in a typical way with balloons and confetti anyway.

What I will do is celebrate this anniversary with intense gratitude for what the disease brought into my life, just as I celebrate every day. I am thankful for the beauty that emerged in the darkness. The disease revealed an amazing community of GEMs. AND, above all else, it brought me humility for the beauty of Life. For better or worse, I learned I am not ultimately in control of what life brings my way.

These three things are gifts that take my breath away each day.

Gratitude. An appreciation for my health and a better perspective on life are at the forefront of the gifts I am forever grateful for. Survival brought me the ability to see my children grow into amazing teenagers. I’ve taken breathtaking trips with my husband. I’ve learned how to be a better friend, parent, human. I’m grateful for the gift of a new career path that allows us to help others by sharing a positive lifestyle — inside and out. Without my cancer journey, I would not have known the POWER of food on my physical and mental health. The disease propelled me into the GEM — the manifestation of my new view on all that nourishes me — and into this amazing community of GEM-my people.

A GEM-my Community. Little did my soul-sister Mary Kathryn and I know, our new-found passion rooted in this journey would evolve into a community of GEM lovers. You whole-heartedly dove into this GEM-inspired life, turning it into a disco-filled movement I couldn’t even have dreamt of.

Humility. The greatest gift I received from this journey is humility. Yes, I worked hard to get myself cancer-free, but so many others have done the same work with a far different outcome. What’s humbling and so very apparent, is that ultimately, I wasn’t in charge of what disease did or didn’t do. My remission was decided not just by medical treatments and lifestyle changes, it was also decided by something much more powerful than you or me. A Higher Power. While I did everything within my control to get healthy, ultimately, it was in the hands of something greater.

Celebrate Others

So, in “celebration” of my 10 year cancer-versary, I humbly commit to honor my beautiful friends who are no longer with us by spreading authentic goodness and healing opportunities, inside and outside the GEM each day. Sadly, there are many. For my sweet friend Kristin, for Charlotte, Chris, Chad, Brandice, Chuck, Bobby, Michael, Genia, Polly: We know your stories. We miss your life forces. Your smiles.

And to those who are still fighting. Jennifer, Jessica, Marjorie, Padgett, Andrea, Sally, and so many others…keep your eye on the prize of healing. You have amazing support teams around you — and all of us at The GEM are part of that band of warriors.

The beauty of your life is humbling — look for it. I hope you’ll share this gratitude with someone else: a friend, a family member or a stranger. You never know how much your kindness could turn the dark into the dawn.

“Even in darkness, blossoms will bloom.”

Arm Yourself Against Cancer: The #HonestlyOrganic Way

Posted on October 16, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on Arm Yourself Against Cancer: The #HonestlyOrganic Way

This one’s for you, Cancer. My fight against cancer for the REAL family jewels (the breasts) led MK and me to create the ONLY organic juice bar in Dallas. My multi-prong, cancer-free plan of attack included eating only whole, CLEAN, organic foods — pesticides, toxins and processed artificial ingredients HAD TO GO.

At the GEM, we know firsthand: This nasty disease is no joke. One more cancer sufferer is one too many. So we’ve made it our mission to provide only the BEST organic juices, smoothies and green bites with no compromise to help protect YOUR family jewels (prostate, breast, and colon) — and give you diamonds on the inside, too!

Order your #HonestlyOrganic green bites and juices, on our app!

From the first diagnosis of breast cancer, I made a conscious decision to learn and do everything within my power to keep me cancer free. One of the first things I changed? My diet. Being scared into EATING straight is a real thing, people! This meant whole, CLEAN (organic) foods — no more artificial or processed junk, and absolutely no more pesticide-ridden fruits and veggies.

But eating organic is only the first step to living a cancer-free life. Keep the treasures safe with these essential lifestyle changes:

10 Ways to Keep Your Family Jewels Cancer Free

MOVE TO A WHOLE FOODS, PLANT-BASED DIET. Eat fewer things that have feet (ie, animal protein) and eat more green plants. Read The China Study. Mind-blowing research about cancer and animal protein.
ELIMINATE PRESERVATIVES AND CHEMICALS from your food. We can’t say it enough! That includes artificial sweeteners, flavorings and colors, nitrates, MSG, and more. And while we’re at it, replace those vegetable based oils (like canola, corn and soy) with healthier and whole avocado, olive and coconut oil. Fats are good for you, but only when they come from healthy, clean sources. By the way, did you know, there are no vegetables in vegetable oil? True story.
FIGHT THE SUGAR DRAGON: Not only is this ingredient highly addictive, it’s also known to increase cancer-causing inflammation! You can find added sugar snuck into almost everything: Corn syrup, rice syrup, dextrose, sucrose, lactose…the list goes on.
READ YOUR INGREDIENTS: You’d be surprised at what you’ll find in some foods — even an innocent bottle of salad dressing. Hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, nitrates, artificial colors and more.
DRINK YOUR GREEN TEA. The active ingredient in green tea – antioxidant compounds called catechins – reduces cancer occurrences. Our Forever Young Green Tea and Matcha Latte hit it head on!
RELAX. Daily breathing exercises, meditation, and more decrease stress hormones released into your system, preventing cancer-causing inflammation. This stuff WORKS.
ORGANIC BERRIES. Delicious, delicious berries contain significant antioxidants that help reduce cancer risk AND contain ellagic acid, which has been shown to slow the growth of some tumors (insert twig and berries joke here!).
#SHINEBRIGHT WITH VITAMIN D. From safe exposure to sunshine, D3 supplements and leafy greens, Vitamin D suppresses the formation of new blood vessels that nourish the growth of tumors. The rates of breast, prostate, and colon cancer are lower in climates that have the most sunshine. Bring on the Hawaiian Tropic!
TURMERIC & SELENIUM. Curcumin (active component) has been shown to interrupt the normal progression of cancer cells. Also great for arthritis/joint pain. Turmeric Lattes or straight shots of pressed turmeric — just do it. Selenium is a potent antioxidant or scavenger of carcinogenic free radicals. It is HUGE as an anti-prostate cancer warrior. Our GEM Remix has you covered.
GET PHYSICAL. By adding energizing, stress-busting exercise to your daily routine, you can lower the levels of estrogen and insulin in your body — hormones which can increase cancer development and progression if left unchecked.
STAY BOOZE-FREE. Women who had 4-5 drinks per WEEK had a 38% percent higher risk of breast cancer recurrence. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. Leave the competitive drinking games in college where they belong! NO EXCUSES! Try replacing your daily glass of wine with meditation, exercise, a dose of Natural Calm or a cozy Turmeric Latte. Alcohol is full of sugar and calories as empty as a Big Mac.

Wearing pink, purchasing yogurt with a ribbon on it and regular screening just won’t cut it anymore. TAKE CONTROL. We are the sum of all of our tiny little decisions — good and bad.

Go on, be a GEM and give a big squeeze of love to your family and your family jewels. But above all else, remember to surround yourself with shiny, happy people and places that lift you up. See you inside The GEM!

When Your Real Life Can’t Be #HonestlyOrganic

Posted on October 2, 2019 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 1 Comment on When Your Real Life Can’t Be #HonestlyOrganic

We don’t mess around at The GEM about the importance of organic. It’s the best thing you can do for your overall health. But real life is busy, and organic may not be convenient or available! Believe us, we know. We have gone to seriously GREAT LENGTHS to stay organic, and when you’ve got a full schedule, job, and/or family, driving all over Texas (or even to another Whole Foods) for organic cucumbers isn’t always possible.

Get your #HonestlyOrganic juices and smoothies, on our app!

Of course, if you’d like to eat organic GEM goodies all the time, we won’t stop you! But if you have to brave the conventional produce aisle under real world circumstances, here’s some info to light the way.

Most of the world’s food supply is riddled with pesticides that are not only ON our food, but actually scientifically engineered inside (YIKES!). Luckily for us healthy-loving GEMs, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce every year. It tells you which organic fruits and veggies aren’t optional, and which ones are safe even when traditionally grown.

Updated annually, EWG’s guide ranks pesticide contamination on 48 popular fruits and vegetables. It also offers shorter The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Super handy and helpful. Need an even shorter list? We’ve got you.

Dirty DON’Ts
These fruits and veggies are badass ingredients in your daily juice and smoothies—and a hard NO when not organic:

SPINACH & KALE. In your salads, in your juices, these leafy greens made it to the top 12 after a decade of being clean.
CELERY. Your daily celery juice has amazing benefits, but make sure it is organic!
STRAWBERRIES. Number 1 on the list for four straight years!
APPLES. Not only do organic apples actually TASTE better, but they are relatively inexpensive compared to their conventionally grown counterparts. Apples often stay in storage longer than a year. Shoot for organic apples in season that don’t sport a waxy surface to really get the most out of their delicious nutrients. SCORE!

MEAN AND CLEAN
When it comes to eating clean for you and your family, you can skip the organic-only aisle for:

Avocados. Only 1% of conventional ones showed any detectable pesticides. Save!
Pineapples. Sweet and ready to eat!
Broccoli. It’s better to eat broccoli that may have been exposed to pesticides than to not eat broccoli at all. Fun fact!
Mushrooms. Did you know that even one mushroom a day can have a significant reduction in cancer occurrences?

Let these lists be your guide to eating organically on a budget. Print them out and remember them. Don’t worry about every morsel you eat at a restaurant or at a friend’s home. Just make sure that IF you can, you are buying organic where it matters most. And most importantly, rest easy knowing that your food inside The GEM is healthy, safe, and, honestly organic. Always. Because we dance to the disco beat of organic, green goodness every day.

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