The Charlton Centre

With January being such a popular time to think about one’s health, we thought we would share some healthy breakfast tips with you.

Steel-cut oats are highly recommended to use as an easy breakfast food. Made by slicing whole oat groats rather than rolling them, the steel-cut variety retain a larger surface area, increasing their fiber content and making them a healthier choice than the regular variety used in instant oatmeal. For a refreshing twist, steep the oats in a crock pot alongside fresh cherries, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. I recommend fresh cherries: not only will their high water content keep you fuller for longer, but their natural melatonin will also help regulate your sleep cycle.

Cherries contain substances known as anthocyanins – purple and blue pigments that give the cherries their colour. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, these compounds reduce pain related to inflammation. Cherries are also used to relieve the pain associated with arthritis and gout, though the extent to which they relieve pain needs further investigation. Cherries also contain boron, which helps increase bone health when consumed in conjunction with magnesium and calcium.

Evelyn Gilkinson is the Nurse Lead for Charlton Health Inc. Before devoting herself solely to Infusing Biologics, Gilkinson worked at Toronto General Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre (Adelaide, Australia), and the London Health Science Centre in Thoracic Step Down, neonate, pediatric and adult Intensive Care, Recovery Room, and Emergency Medicine. Evelyn has done research for The Canadian Cervical Spine Study and with the AIM Health Group. She established the first out-of Hospital Infusion Centres in London and Waterloo. For the last twelve years, Evelyn was the Nurse Supervisor for South Western Ontario for many infusion sites until joining the Charlton team in the summer of 2016.