Client Testimonials

"When a person learns they have cancer they are never the same. I learned I had cancer and then it was by good fortune a friend introduced me to Danielle. Trying to take care of cancer with lifestyle changes looked a lot better than jumping into cancer treatment with conventional medicine where there is limited choice. Conventional medicine will treat a cancer but there does not seem to be any lifestyle changes addressed to keep a cancer or other disease from coming back. The exception may be when a person is treated for lung cancer or other cancer attributed to smoking or tobacco use. Conventional medicine calls a person cured after a certain number of years with no new progression or new cancer found. Many times we have known people who ‘had’ cancer were treated and ‘cured’ only to have it come back.

Danielle started me on a new path of nutrition and we studied different methodologies about nutrition while following a holistic approach to eating, food choices, preparation, storage, shopping and most importantly juicing.

As soon as I started to do the things recommended by Danielle I was losing weight, feeling good and getting a new energy level. I did have to have cancer surgery because of an aggressive form of cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure during my combat tour in Vietnam. However I truly feel that the holistic approach to health will keep me from getting any other maladies caused by Agent Orange or other environmental factors we all are exposed to on a regular and daily basis.” (Note: Chuck worked to strengthen his immune system and lost 20 pounds prior to his surgery which has helped him achieve the results he wanted and endure and heal successfully from surgery.)

— Chuck Overbeck, Gladewater, TX

"My name is Leslie Harold, and I have worked with Danielle for 3 months. I met Danielle through invitations to several seminars that she gave in the Longview area. I found the information in the seminars so interesting that I began questioning my own nutritional fund of knowledge and discovered that I was sorely uninformed as to the true content of the vast majority of things I was eating. I am not and have never been a smoker, but I suffer from asthma and sleep apnea. In addition, I am in my late forties and have already had arthritis surgery on my knee and elbow. All of that combined, I also found myself unable to successfully lose weight although I was watching my intake and exercising moderately. During my sessions with Danielle, I discovered that most of the foods I consumed contained processed ingredients that actually worked counter to my efforts. She encouraged me to maintain a food diary that was meticulously evaluated during our sessions. Through the evaluation of my food choices and handout material regarding background information on their content and production, I not only began to rigorously change my diet, but that of my family as well. Through my sessions with Danielle I learned about the relationship of food to ailments and allergies. Regarding my two sons, both have ADHD, and one has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Danielle provided me with a plethora of information and nutritional recipes that support cognition and aid the body in its renewing process. Needless to say, there is a noticeable change in the contents of my pantry before and after working with Danielle. And to my surprise, my children have adapted to changes in many of their previous preferences without protest.

Overall, I find myself on a continuous journey of learning about the relationship of food and my overall wellbeing. I have been introduced to many new food items that I would have never considered eating let alone having become a staple of our food choices. We now use a food processor, and I am enjoying my new world of juicing. Danielle is very enthusiastic and passionate in providing her consultant services. She genuinely cares about her client’s wellbeing and gives 150% to making sure you truly have an understanding of the role of nutrition in balancing mind and body. I have enjoyed our sessions and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who looks out at our current commercial food choice venues and asks ‘is there anything better out there?’ The answer is an emphatic Yes! Ask Danielle.”

— Leslie Harold, Longview, TX

"My name is Brenda Buck and I’ve been working with Danielle since April 9, 2009 after meeting during the Women in Longview Day. At the time of our meeting I had a resistant skin rash over a large part of my body and felt my health was deteriorating for quite some time. It was gradual, but over the prior 2-3 years I noticed cuts and bruises would not heal, my joints were aching, I was constantly tired, my blood pressure was soaring, and headaches everyday were becoming the norm. I was with a physician for over 6 months trying to lower my blood pressure and investigate the resistant skin rash. So, by the time I met Danielle I knew things had to change in my life. I just didn’t know how much change was in store!

I was in a bit of denial and quite skeptical when we began, but really felt I had nothing to lose. Even though I was detached emotionally for the first few weeks, I was dedicated to the program. She helped me understand the role of food in my everyday nutritional needs. We quickly focused on trouble areas and worked toward making life changes. Easy? Good grief, NO! This was incredibly difficult for me, but I felt Danielle’s encouragement every step. She taught me about whole foods, new meal choices, cooking skills, and life long eating habits among so many other things.

I’m happy to say I feel wonderful after only 4 months. It’s amazing! I’m no longer a skeptic, but a full believer. My skin has already healed. My joints no longer hurt. Bruises and cuts heal so fast. My blood pressure has dramatically decreased and stabilized, without medication. I’m not fatigued…and for me this was big. Some wonderful “side effects” are no more food cravings and I feel completely satisfied after eating.

I know my nutritional journey is not finished, but I’m so excited about the difference already. Honestly, I didn’t know how bad I felt until now feeling so good! This journey with Danielle is not for the faint of heart, but it’s for those who want to live and not just survive his or her life. Definitely…it’s for those who want to TRULY LIVE! I feel wonderful for the first time in many years. Best wishes on your own journey.” (Update: Brenda has lost over 22 pounds and is steadily losing!)

— Brenda Buck, Longview, TX

"Hello. My name is Michelle Cook. I am a type A overachiever. I have always worked, even when I am not in an office setting. If I am not working, I am going to school or teaching. I have been hard on myself, guilt ridden in fact, and when I am unable to live up to the goals in my head, I emotionally destroy myself with the physical side effects soon to follow.

In 2005, I contracted the Epstein Barr Virus. Six months and four doctors later when I finally got a doctor to listen to me, without his eyes glossing over, I got the full diagnosis: EBV, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Thyroid Disease. Throw in a little high blood pressure, a pinch of depression, and a dash of hormonal imbalance, and you have a recipe for disaster. For years I barely lived. I became a true invalid locked in my own home. Many days I was barely able to get out of my bed. Walking from one end of the house to the other exhausted me and going up or down the stairs was impossible. Often I couldn’t stand up, because I would fall down.

Except for my husband, who saw the real struggle, my family wrote me off to being lazy. Then in 2008, I had a stroke. Hmmm. One doctor poked his head up. Do I hear medication anyone? ‘Let’s give this one a shot. No that’s okay you won’t need to contact me. Any other health problems? No? Great!!’ In 2009, the medication that this doctor put me on caused my heart attack.

You have heard this story before. The medical system has failed me. It is time for something that won’t.

I had my first meeting with Danielle Heard on June 11, 2009. I have been skeptical about nutritionists because I really didn’t think my eating habits were that bad. Danielle was very patient with me, but by the end of our very first meeting I could see that even the ‘healthy’ deli food and pizza I normally ate, as opposed to eating out, was actually the cause of a great many of my problems. And that was just the beginning.

There was so much about food that I didn’t understand that I finally realized that I was actually afraid of it. I am not a cook and never really have been. I have never had a cooking lesson and have cooked out of necessity all of my adult life from recipes handed down, that were meant to be ‘hearty’ or ‘filling.’ I now know that that means, a lot of starch and a lot of simple carbohydrates, because those are the foods that most young families can usually afford. Unfortunately as those families mature we seldom see a change in those cooking and eating habits and thus you see the state of the American family today. I am a prime example, and I am pleased to see that now my own family does not eat the way I learned to and the way they were taught.

Danielle has set me straight about varieties of foods, and value of food, what is best for your body, when it is best and why, why your body needs it, how it uses it, stores it, processes it, how to cut it, buy it, cook it, and eat it. So many things she has taught me about, not just food, but my own body.

On December 28, 2009, I had an appointment with my cardiologist, one of the few doctors in this town that I trust, and he gave me a clean bill of health. Blood pressure is good, lungs are clear, weight is down 10 pounds, heart sounds good. I have gone from taking fourteen medications per day to seven, and I believe in the next six months I can cut another two off of that.

My original goal with Danielle was to find a reason to want to live again. She was the end game for me. By three months I knew I was going to live and then my goal became to be well. Do you know that I have never once dieted on this diet? I have never once counted calories or even stood on the bathroom scale. I weighed in the doctors office last week and I was stunned at the weight loss. That was just an added bonus.

So what more can I say about Danielle and how she has helped me? I am not sure. Except that she is filled with love for her fellow humans and wants nothing more than to share her life sustaining knowledge with you. She has shown me how to help myself. I want to live again and now I can.” Click here to read Michelle's success story and view her before and after photos.

— Michelle Cook, Longview, TX

"I have been working with Danielle since May 22, 2009. I was first introduced to her website by a friend a month before, but did not think much of it at that time. I was already starting to move into some frequent episodic inflammation due to my arthritis and had already started to investigate healing food sites; Artemis in the City being one. I did not really understand how to put what I was reading together into a menu or start the process until I went to hear Danielle talk at Vitamin’s Plus one Saturday afternoon. She basically confirmed what I was already beginning to gain some awareness about, and that the food I have been eating was very unhealthy, lacked nutrition, and was probably acerbating the inflammation, because I was not providing the nutrients my body requires.

I filled out a history and had my first session on May 22, 2009. I knew going in I was going to have to make some drastic changes to improve my health. I thought I can either let the food continue to hurt me or I can let the food heal me. Danielle spent about 2 hours with me going over my health history and current situation, as it was pain providing the incentive to act, and prescription medication only slows the pain but does not cure the pain. I wanted to go for cure. I remember that day vividly. But what most impressed me was that she looked at me intently and said, 'I really want to help you.'

I have been working with Danielle for over 7 months now and have tried to follow her direction in a way that I have not done before. I have lost over 60 lbs! I don’t have to count calories or weigh anything. I just have to follow directions and eat healthy.

One of our sessions together was learning about the different foods in the health store and reading labels. I am eating real food, nothing processed or chemically treated, and my body can tell the difference. It is outstanding! Another of our sessions was over two hours of learning to use my juicer, but always in our sessions there is guidance and education.

I am going to continue to work with Danielle because I have achieved a level of comfort and success working with Danielle that I have not achieved in the past and I feel very hopeful for the first time in my life.” (Update: Margaret was presented with a certificate of achievement award from the executive director of her company for her efforts to take control of her health! Click here to read Margaret's success story and view her before and after photos.)

— Margaret Cunzalo, Longview, TX

"I have known Danielle since we were children. I never dreamed that she would end up playing such a vital role in my life.

When Danielle began her website and gave me a bit of information on what she was doing as a health counselor, I found what she said to be interesting. I have had issues with weight, heart and stomach, along with depression and mental fuzz.

I wanted to support Danielle, but didn't realize at the time what an impact it would have on me, and those I know. I knew that I could trust Danielle, and I know that she is sincere in whatever she does.

We began the program, focusing on the areas of my life that needed improvement. Over the period of six months, we covered a lot of material. But the way it was presented...line upon line, it was not overwhelming or confusing. She has been a great teacher, with patience, in-depth explanations of diet and health, and love.

I had to change, little by little, the way I ate. I began to make lists of what I would need to experiment with recipes, and eat in a way that would be friendly to me, and friendly to our earth. It is working. And to add to the benefit, the cost of my food supply has decreased. I simply eat fresh.

I had come to the conclusion that I was simply becoming heavier, and my clothes must be donated to a good cause, and I would need to literally expand my wardrobe. It didn't turn out that way. The more I learned and practiced what I was taught, the more I noticed an increase in energy, an interest in my health, and weight coming off my frame. I am able to not only fit into my clothes, but they are loose. This is not a fad, or a flash in the pan, it is a lifestyle. My health gradually improved and weight gradually came off. I feel good and I know I will continue feeling better.

I would advise anyone to be patient and honest with themselves. Danielle's knowledge and teaching style are full of love. You can feel it from her, and you can taste it in the recipes that she prepares. Even though I live so far away, she made great efforts to provide me with her samplings.

I would also advise anyone looking for a change to not focus on a dollar amount, for what I've been given is priceless. I have had a complete change of attitude, strength and understanding.”

Thank you Danielle! (Update: John lost over 50 pounds during his 6 month program! He has continued to lose weight and has lost 70 pounds. Click here to read John's success story and view his before and after photos.)

— John Gillespie, Denver, CO

"I've really enjoyed working with Danielle. She has the perfect mix of warmth and directness. She was genuinely concerned about me and my health and spent a great deal of time researching and preparing for me and my sessions. She challenged me to make changes I wasn't completely comfortable with. But she assured me that I could do it and she would be there to support me.

I made radical changes in my eating lifestyle that I never knew I could. Those changes have become a part of me. On the outside, I lost 15+ pounds and have clearer skin and healthier hair. The real changes are on the inside. I've become better friends with my body. I no longer abuse it as I had become accustomed to, not just with what I ate but in how I felt about it. I feel stronger, an empowerment. The food doesn't have power over me, but I don't have power over it either. It is fuel for me, nutrition for me, health for me. We are friends. I have a respect for healthy food and have learned that my body is worth healthy food.

Before working with Danielle, I never would have expected that I could have such an incredible paradigm shift in regards to food and my health.”

— Jamie English, Longview, TX

"I have been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) since I was a freshman in college in 1997. Over the past twelve years I have been in and out of the hospital even though I was taking all of the prescribed medication. During this same time frame, I have become aware of certain foods that consistently cause my condition to worsen. Each year that goes by usually adds a few more foods to the avoid list, but still have not managed to completely control my disease. After meeting with Danielle, I was impressed that she could identify almost every food I should avoid that it has taken me over twelve years to discover.

While I have been able to identify foods that cause my condition to worsen, I have been less successful at finding foods that are beneficial. Because of the fact that she had been able to accurately single out what foods I should avoid, I trusted that the foods she recommended to be beneficial would indeed be helpful. I have added these foods into my regular diet, and have been feeling great. I have also noticed an increase in energy at the office.  My job is very demanding (process engineer) and it is important for me to be able to work very long hours when necessary.”

— Michael Matlock, Oklahoma City, OK

“I was experiencing a lot of fatigue, some pain and generally not feeling well. I had tried changing my diet on my own, but came to the conclusion that I really needed some professional guidance. I know Danielle from graduate school so I contacted her for advice. She helped me analyze my current diet and we immediately made some changes. Through her advice, coaching, guidance and demonstrations (she showed me how to juice and took me shopping at a health food store), I was able to make some immediate changes in my diet and began to feel better almost immediately. She also spent a lot of time teaching me the theory of food. That is, how the food you eat has a direct impact on your emotional and mental well being. I learned a lot from Danielle and will continue to seek out her advice.”

— Mitch Kent, New York City, NY and Philadelphia, PA

"Danielle's knowledge base is surpassed only by the dedication she exhibits. She is now permanently a part of my consciousness. I hear her voice, sometimes gently prodding and sometimes forcefully insisting, with every food choice I make.

Since working with Danielle, I have drastically and permanently changed my eating habits. As a result, my migraines and GI symptoms are noticeably less frequent and shorter in duration. The days of feeling a general sense of "yick" have reduced as well. A side benefit that cannot be measured as easily, is the role modeling that I am now doing for my daughter. No doubt, the education I have received will strengthen her life as well."

— Susan Lesser, New Haven, CT

"After I came down with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and some autoimmune illnesses, I was told by rheumatologists that my only options were prednisone (with what side effects!) and plaquinil (which could ruin my peripheral vision). That was ten years ago, when I could barely walk. Danielle Heard gave me hope that through nutrition and alternative therapies, I could improve without dangerous pharmaceuticals, and she showed me several pathways that I had been unaware of. A year or two later, my husband and I were taking ballroom dance classes. I will always be grateful to her for her invaluable counseling!"

— Donna Berliner, Ph.D., Dallas, TX

— Brenda Russell, Longview, TX

“Danielle Heard...I don’t know where to begin. I’ve been to a few of her sessions and documentary showings since she came to Longview this year. How lucky we are to have this bright star amongst us. She is highly educated in preparing good food and eating well, and how we can make our life one of health and happiness. She has taught us how a steady indulgence of highly processed “fake” fast foods along with drinks poisoned with aspartame can greatly damage our beautiful temples.

Speaking of...my beautiful temple is somewhat overweight. I’m so comfortable with Danielle; I never feel like she views me with a critical eye, just a caring one. She has applauded me for any small positive moves I made toward better health. So you 'healthy' people out there, please know that Danielle will respect your body just as you are. You will be at ease with her.

Hear her speak, call her...meet her someway. I guarantee you that you will alter something about your diet. She quietly influences everyone to make changes, big and small.”

— Martha Thompson, Longview, TX

— Ron Nader, Longview, TX

“I have been treated for years for symptoms of fibromyalgia without me knowing neither what the real problem was nor what treatment would really help. After deciding on my own to take better care of my body, I found that there could be great benefit in eating healthy. I lost some weight – about 20kg (44.092 pounds) and already saw some improvement. I then read about fibromyalgia on Danielle’s site and since this condition was unknown to me, but I seemed to have all the symptoms, I decided to email her. She replied and arranged a Skype consultation for me to Cape Town, South Africa.

The amount of information that was shared was overwhelming. I simply never found it packaged like that. I was ready to start immediately applying Danielle’s instructions to both me and my 9-year-old son. Some of the effects will probably show over time, but there was an immediate improvement in the way I felt and an improvement in my son’s concentration (one of the issues Danielle advised on). In fact he scored 4 average this quarter – that is the highest one can score (grades are averaged out from 1 to 4 with 1 the lowest and 4 the highest.) He came up from a 3 average, where the class average was 2. This in a school with a very high standard.

I currently live a very active life, something that was not possible a while ago. I never imagined that I could feel younger at 42 than I felt at 30 by simply eating the right food.”

— Pieter Loftus, Cape Town, South Africa

“I would like to recommend Danielle Heard (Artemis) for the position of private chef. She has worked for me from January through May assisting our chef and at times cooking independently from him. Danielle came to us in training under our chef, Richard LaMarita. Danielle assisted in all areas of meal preparation. She is particularly good with timing of meal service. At the last minute our chef had a funeral to go to and I had 25, twelve year olds for my daughter's birthday which happened to be a cooking party. She organized three groups of eight making sushi, pizza, cakes and baking cookies. She also did our Passover Seder and researched recipes. Her potato pancakes are the best I have ever had. Danielle has a great disposition and is meticulously organized. She gives 100 percent to everything she does. I highly recommend her for a chef's position as long as I can borrow her when our chef is on vacation. Only kidding!”

— Lisa Engel, New York City, NY

“I am 66, reasonably fit and have no chronic health problems. But in the last 10 years, I have gained 20 pounds and, even with medication, my blood pressure is occasionally dangerously unstable.

I know Danielle Heard and have eaten delicious foods she prepared. It seemed reasonable to add nutritional advice to my efforts to keep my blood pressure under control. We met and she advised me of simple and easy ways to change some of the foods that I eat and thus better control my blood pressure. Better nutrition along with blood pressure medications and regular physical exercise were perhaps the solution.

In the two weeks since that meeting I have implemented Danielle’s suggestions. My blood pressure is stable AND I have lost four pounds. Thank you Danielle!”

— Marolen Mullinax, Longview, TX

"After meeting with Danielle for six months, I've lost 20 pounds without having to starve. I have learned to watch what I eat and that there are many foods that taste good and are good for you. I know now that I don't require soda, or diet soda, cream and sugar in coffee. I drink lots of water and try to eat organic where possible. With Danielle you learn about everyday foods that are not good for you and how to avoid them. It is well worth the time and money invested."

— Bob Russell, Longview, TX

“Danielle and I have been close friends for almost a decade. She is honest and true.
She is also absolutely reliable and dedicated. Her love and respect for holistic nutrition is more than inspiring. It is her way of life and her passion; and it is her purpose to bring this to others so that they also may have joy in caring for and honoring their bodies and lives. I have had much trouble over the years with my digestion and Danielle has been on target every time. I no longer have near the disturbance I once had, thanks to changing several things per her guidance. I am in the process now of getting back to the goodness and wholeness of organics and natural foods, and Danielle's suggestions to me have been a treasure, and I trust her implicitly. I cannot think of a better way for her to minister: healing through care, compassion, and perfect nutrition.”

— Julia Smith, Seattle, WA

“When I was 13 years of age, my older sister, Danielle, discovered the healing properties of food. As she struggled with her health, asking questions of the traditional medical community and finding no answers, I watched her transform her life with the vital nutrients that her body had so desperately craved. Little did I know, her journey would become my journey nine years later. When I was 22, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus.
I knew immediately that the allopathic model of medicine was not a path I was willing to try. I did not want to be a slave to various pills and potions. Instead, I remembered how my sister used nutrition to gain her life back, and I was prepared to do the same. Four years later, after radical changes in my nutritional lifestyle and a strict regimen of chiropractic care, my autoimmune disease is in complete remission. I truly believe Danielle has a gift to offer the world. She is thoughtful, generous, kind-hearted, and passionate about health. Whatever your needs may be, she will listen to you, offer assistance, and will be your strongest ally in your own journey into health.”

— Hailey Heard, Atlanta, GA