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Depression: Alternative treatments your doctor won't tell you about Eggs: Busting the cholesterol myth Enhance your memory, increase longevity, slow ageing and lower stress… Discover new treatments for depression that your doctor won't tell  Eggs: Busting the Cholesterol Myth Dear Reader, When I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, at the age of 9, one of the first dietary changes our family doctor recommended was to avoid eggs at all costs... The truth is, thanks to misinformed (plain wrong!) advice like that, many people believe that eggs are bad for them because they contain high amounts of cholesterol. Consequently, millions of people are avoiding cholesterol- rich foods, like eggs, under the illusion that they're 'protecting' their heart health. Let's face it, when we hear the word cholesterol we immediately think of clogged arteries, heart attacks, stroke etc... We rarely think of it in relation to good health and who can blame us, since the mainstream has left no stone unturned in their mission to make cholesterol arch villain number one! Cholesterol is good for you! Consider some of the following cholesterol-related facts — that you certainly won't hear about from your doctor — and chances are you'll change the way you view this essential building block... To start with, cholesterol is absolutely vital for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth because it's an essential component in cell membrane formation. It also plays a key role in the healing of wounds. These are just two of its many beneficial functions... and its virtues don't end there! In fact, the genetic disorder Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) prevents sufferers from synthesizing enough cholesterol in their bodies. As a result, sufferers show symptoms like growth retardation, cleft palates, and deformities of limbs, mental problems like autism and depression, as well as major digestive disorders. Guess how doctors typically treated SLOS before the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a cholesterol supplement? With egg yolks — a rich source of cholesterol, which resulted in enhanced growth and brain development in many patients... And let's not forget that eggs are a highly nutritious food — packed full of vitamins and minerals. For example, they contain vitamins B12 and B6 and folic acid that help lower homocysteine levels — this is important as high levels are associated with heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer's. As if all this wasn't reason enough for including more eggs in your diet, they also contain zinc which is essential for supporting your immune system; carotenes which offer vital protection against age related macular degeneration; sulphur which possesses anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant protection; and magnesium which helps fight everything from high blood pressure, migraines and atherogenesis (fatty deposits on arterial walls). Add to this mix vitamins A, D, E and K, iron, riboflavin, niacin, potassium and lipoproteins, and it's not difficult to figure out why eggs are such a nutritious and healthy food.  ...and another thing Strokes are a leading cause of severe, long-term disability and addressing the associated risk factors can help prevent their often devastating consequences. Here's how to help minimize your risk of stroke: Control your blood pressure. Exercise regularly. People who exercise as part of their health regime have increased cardiovascular health and a lower risk of suffering a stroke. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor for stroke. Limit alcohol intake. If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Manage diabetes with an anti-inflammatory diet, and maintain tight control of blood sugar levels. Maintain a healthy cholesterol ratio (with low levels of LDL 'bad' cholesterol and high levels of HDL 'good' cholesterol) by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.