A lot of people seem to be confused about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and how they can potentially affect health and the environment. Essentially, GMOs are an organism that has been genetically altered in a way that does not occur naturally in nature. This is a recombinant DNA technique. It is not the same as cross-breeding or natural recombination. When scientists or farmers cross-breed to acquire desirable traits in plants, the plant still contains its own species of DNA. GMOs have been created through the modification of genetic DNA where DNA is transferred from an outside source such as from another species by laboratory techniques. Genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. This process is called genetic engineering (GE) or genetic modification (GM).

Research studies have been conducted on GMOs but the evidence is contradictory and the quality of the science varies. GMOs have not been proven safe. In the USA there have been cases of GMOs that have caused allergic reactions in people such as the Starlink Bt corn. This GMO corn was found in products made of corn, such as taco shells, even though it had not been approved for human consumption. Scientists developed the Starlink GMO corn by inserting a Cry9C protein, from a (Read Full Article)

Sometimes a cup of cacao is all that is needed to turn your blues around! Ancient civilizations of people such as the Mayans, Aztecs and Olmecs recognized the special medicinal properties of cacao. It was so valuable to them that cacao beans were a form of currency. They drank the bitter unsweetened chocolate drink mixed with spices such as chili pepper, to treat inflammation along with various diseases relating to the heart and liver. Cacao is considered to have exceptional nourishing qualities, promote longevity and even have aphrodisiac properties. To these ancient people, cacao was known as the “Food of Gods.”

Now many years later scientists have put cacao to the test in clinical research trials and are uncovering its health benefits. Cacao powder and dark chocolate are rich in flavonoids and polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Research conducted by University of California Davis found that the antioxidants in cacao reduce oxidative damage to lipids. Additional research has also shown that a cacao powder drink rich in flavonoids improved blood pressure and cellular dysfunction in people with heart disease. Clinical trials have even shown that participants report increased calmness, contentedness and improved anxiety and depression from drinking dark chocolate. But to be clear, these studies are not using milk chocolate or other refined chocolates which are high in refined sugar and fat. In addition to antioxidants, cacao is also rich in iron, magnesium and other minerals such as zinc, manganese, copper and chromium.

So on a cold winter’s day or just any time you are feeling a bit down and (Read Full Article)

It is hard to believe but it has been thirty years since the United Support of Artists for Africa recorded the song “We are the World” to try to alleviate the extreme starvation occurring in Africa and also hunger at home in America. This extraordinary group of artists raised over $75 million to fight hunger and poverty in Africa and also $25 million to fight hunger in the United States. Because of people like you who bought the record, many lives were saved.

But malnutrition and starvation are still very serious problems and each year millions of people die unnecessary deaths. Statistically, between 800 and 900 million people in the world do not have enough food to eat and tragically over 3 million children under the age of five die each year from unnecessary death. These statistics are hard to believe for those living in more developed areas of the world. Ironically among more wealthy nations diseases that are lifestyle related, which are also diseases of excess, far exceed infectious disease or starvation. One only needs to look at the “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats," photos taken by Peter Menzel to really grasp just how excessive many families live compared to those in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Nutrition is critical for development and health. For example, currently over 250 million children are at risk for vitamin A deficiency. Without healthy foods that contain rich sources of vitamin A, blindness can occur. This is a leading cause (Read Full Article)

This week is officially Health Coach Week! Beginning January 12th - 18th, Health Coaches are being celebrated for their dedication and work in helping individuals, families and communities improve their health and wellbeing and live healthy lives.

Around the world, the rate of preventable lifestyle disease is on the rise and life expectancy is declining. Scientists conservatively predict that by 2020, 1 out of 2 Americans will be obese and also have diabetes. Obesity and diabetes dramatically increase risks for other life threatening diseases. For example, just having diabetes makes a person 4 times more likely to die of heart disease or a stroke and obesity significantly increases risk for cancer. Billions of dollars have been spent trying to find the right medication to treat these diseases. But proven effective treatment has already been identified in diet and lifestyle. In fact some research has even shown that healthy lifestyle practices which help people lose weight, lower blood glucose levels and reverse inflammation and disease are more effective than medications.

Recently U.S. Congressional Representative Tim Ryan commended the work of health and wellness coaches as valuable professionals in the health care industry. Here is his (Read Full Article)

WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Looking back on 2014, I hope you were able to accomplish many of your goals and had a wonderful year. Now is the time to set new goals for the coming year and move forward with achieving those goals.

Are you happy with the way your life is going? If not, what can you do to change it and create what you have dreamed for yourself? If health is an area that you would like to improve, I would certainly love to be a part of your journey to better health. Please contact me to discuss and schedule your appointment. I work with people nationally so we don't have to be located in the same town for us to partner together on your health.

Please view my video message to you which also includes a demonstration on making a healthy protein shake. For those of you who are meeting me for the first time, YES I am a southern girl and was raised in Texas. I have the accent to prove it, but my heart is in New York City where I also lived for more than a decade. (Read Full Article)

Historically, conventional approaches to obesity have suggested that obesity is caused by personal choice, a personal failure of willpower, a lack of education as well as not enough exercise. But, emerging research into obesity has identified that there is much more involved such as environmental influences that conspire to get people to make unhealthy choices or cause them to become so highly addicted to foods that they can't control their eating and thoughts of food which drives them to overeat.

The number of obese people in America has increased dramatically over the last 30 years. Now, two thirds of adults are obese along with 17% of children. When compared to other wealthy peer countries, America has (Read Full Article)

In the wake of many holiday celebrations is an abundance of leftover roasted turkey. After a couple of days of eating leftover turkey, it is time to give it new energy by transforming it into an entirely different dish.

This is a quick and easy turkey soup recipe that tastes delicious, looks elegant and utilizes both the leftover roasted turkey and wild rice from a traditional holiday dinner. You can also substitute the turkey with chicken in this recipe.

My dad said he thinks this is one of the best meals I have ever made. This soup tastes so good that you will want to make it even when it isn't holiday time!

Click here for this recipe and other delicious recipes such as Turkey Chili!

I recently read an article by a doctor who said that gaining weight throughout the holidays is a national pastime. I hadn’t heard it put quite like that but certainly weight gain is a problem for many people. But weight gain doesn’t have to occur as long as you can balance your meals with delicious whole foods and eat within reason. Here are some of my tips to help keep the holiday relatively healthy.

1. When planning a holiday such as Thanksgiving, think about all the wonderful varieties of foods that you can prepare and enjoy with friends and family. Think about their color, texture and flavors. Try to make your meal as fresh and colorful as possible with various crunchy, creamy textures and a variety of tastes such as sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and salty. When you balance meals with these various elements, it is more satisfying and can prevent overeating. So think about these elements as you make your shopping list and plan what you will be serving.

2. If your guests are arriving several hours prior to serving the meal, set out beautiful vegetable and fruit trays with dip or even some freshly made guacamole, popcorn or raw nuts for people to snack on. This will give them something lite to munch on that is also healthy and that takes very little time to prepare. I like to serve pomegranate seeds with orange slices and pineapple or a vegetable tray with a nice (Read Full Article)

I want to wish YOU a Happy New Year!
Here's a toast to a magnificent 2014!

If you are thinking about kicking diet fads to the curb and want to truly learn healthy eating and lifestyle habits, please give me a call toll-free 866-330-5421.

I do not have the marketing budget to compete with all the crazy weight-loss programs out there and since I don't offer a quick fix with rapid weight-loss on a 500 calorie a day starvation diet or hormone injections or an expensive weight-loss program consisting of pills, shakes and supplements that promise to detox your body, it is hard for my program to compete. After all, my health and weight-loss program is just true nutrition and healthy eating with a focus on healing and wellness.

Beautiful hair, glowing skin and weight-loss are added bonuses to the elimination of health issues and disease. I would love to help you let go of harmful negative eating and lifestyle habits.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! XOX!

Please click here to read the client testimonials and the complete success stories of some of Artemis in the City's clients who have greatly improved their health and reversed health issues by improving their diet.

Please click here to learn more about Artemis in the City's Holistic Nutrition Programs and Services.

Please click here to learn more about Danielle.

Artemis in the City is very happy to announce that we were featured in the July 2013 issue of Growing magazine. The national farming magazine is published by Moose River Media and has a print circulation of 20,000 with additional online presence.

We are very honored to have had the opportunity to be interviewed and featured in Growing magazine in the article titled "Selling Customers on Healthy Produce." The article focus is on the health of Americans and the growing market for fresh, local and sustainable (ie organic quality) food. If you would like to read the article online, which appears on pages 20-24 of the magazine, click here. You can also read and print the article by clicking on the following pdfs: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5, page 6.

Thank you very much David Weinstock and Curt Harler for writing such a great article and thank you Stephanie Peake and Moose River Media for including Artemis in the City in Growing magazine! We are very grateful (Please read full article.)