COPD (chronic pulmonary obstructive disease) is becoming increasingly common. By 2030 scientists are predicting that COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the country. If you have COPD, you're looking for two things. One, how to breathe better. And two, how to feel and function better. Recently, researchers looked into an ancient treatment for COPD that is natural and safe. They wanted to know if the treatment was really effective.

I've said for years that the best way to avoid weight gain and diabetes is to stay away from white foods, such as white flour, sugar, white rice, and even potatoes. It's generally good advice, but if the thought of giving up some favorite foods is hard, I have good news. You can have your potatoes and eat them too — if you eat the purple ones!

If a traditional remedy doesn't actually kill bacteria, it's probably just an old wives' tale — right? Not so fast, says Cassandra Quave, an ethnobotanist at Emory University. Quave focuses on investigating traditional remedies used by people in Southern Italy and other areas of the Mediterranean. And some of her research may be paying off in a big way.