Is Smoked Salmon Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
For lunch today, I made myself a sandwich with a 100 gram pack of Mark’s and Spencer’s smoked salmon.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI. “Is there any B12 in smoked salmon” and received this reply.
Yes, smoked salmon is an excellent source of vitamin B12. A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving provides over 100% of the daily recommended value, with some studies showing as much as 136% (roughly 3.3µg) of the daily intake. It is considered a rich source of B12 along with other nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin D.
Key details regarding B12 in smoked salmon include:
High Concentration: A 3-ounce serving provides approximately 2.8 micrograms of vitamin B12.
Daily Needs: Consuming 100g of smoked salmon can fulfill 136% of the daily requirement for vitamin B12.
It looks like a pack of smoked salmon can provide my daily needs of B12.
I followed up, by asking Google AI, the question in the title of this post.
This was the answer that I received.
Smoked salmon can be a suitable protein choice for managing uncomplicated diverticular disease, particularly during periods when a low-fiber or moderate-fiber diet is recommended to manage symptoms. It is generally considered a lean, high-quality protein source.
However, the suitability of smoked salmon depends on the status of your condition:
During a Symptom-Free Period (General Diverticulosis):A healthy, balanced, high-fiber diet is recommended, and fish like salmon is a good choice.
During a Symptom Flare (Uncomplicated Diverticulitis):
A low-fiber, low-residue diet is typically recommended to allow the colon to rest.
Smoked salmon is generally acceptable as a soft, easy-to-digest protein source in this phase.
Important Considerations:
Smoked salmon is a processed meat (smoked/cured), and some guidelines advise limiting processed meats as they may contribute to inflammation,
or at least suggesting they should not be consumed frequently compared to fresh, white fish
Key Recommendations:
Include in a balanced diet:
It can be part of a healthy diet, for example, with low-FODMAP foods.
Watch for Sodium:
Smoked salmon can be high in salt, so moderate consumption is advised.
Focus on Lifestyle:Overall, a high-fiber diet (when not in a flare), plenty of water, and avoiding smoking are the best ways to manage diverticular disease.
It looks from this, that smoked salmon in moderation should be OK.
Disappearance Of Biological Sex In Research ‘Is Like Stalin-Era Purge’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Sir Anthony Finkelstein, a university vice-chancellor, laments that the category has become ‘politically uncomfortable’
These three paragraphs add detail to the post.
A university vice-chancellor has warned of the “quiet disappearance” of sex as a recorded variable in academic research, likening pressure to abandon politically sensitive classifications to Stalin-era persecution of statisticians.
According to Times Higher Education, Sir Anthony Finkelstein, head of City St George’s, University of London, made the remarks at an event to discuss the Sullivan review, which recommended that biological sex be used as the default category in research data collection.
Finkelstein said it was essential that researchers retain established classifications for sex in their statistical analysis. He said: “In recent years, there’s been growing unease about recording sex as a basic variable, and pressure — sometimes explicit and sometimes ambient — to replace it with or collapse it into gender identity.”
I fund and participate in medical research and certainly wouldn’t do so, if I felt the research was not being conducted in a scientifically-correct manner.
Trump Revokes Landmark Ruling That Greenhouse Gases Endanger Public Health
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
US President Donald Trump has reversed a key Obama-era scientific ruling that underpins all federal actions on curbing planet-warming gases.
These three paragraphs add more details to the story.
The so-called 2009 “endangerment finding” concluded that a range of greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. It’s become the legal bedrock of federal efforts to rein in emissions, especially in vehicles.
The White House called the reversal the “largest deregulation in American history”, saying it would make cars cheaper, bringing down costs for automakers by $2,400 per vehicle.
Environmental groups say the move is by far the most significant rollback on climate change yet attempted and are set to challenge it in the courts.
By invoking scientifically incorrect leglislation like this Trump is going to make things a lot worse.
Lets hope his proposed legislation goes the way of his stop to the building of the five wind farms, that I wrote about in All Five Halted US Offshore Wind Farms Resume Construction.
Opening Date For Final Delayed Station Confirmed
The title of this post is the same as that in this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The opening date for the final station on a reopened railway line has finally been announced.
These four paragraphs give more details.
The Northumberland Line between Ashington and Newcastle began carrying passengers in December 2024, decades after the old service ended, but Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations remained unfinished.
It was announced in January Northumberland Park would open on 22 February, and now Northumberland County Council has announced Bedlington will officially open to passengers on 29 March.
Conservative leader Glen Sanderson thanked the local community for bearing with the “inevitable disruption”.
The overdue opening of Bedlington was blamed on ageing stonework and a water pipe under the car park, and in August an extra £37.9m was provided to ensure the project was completed.
Will It Be The Day Of The Dogs?
I wonder how many Bedlington terriers will turn up!
I asked Google AI,”Will Bedlington Terriers be going to the opening of Bedlington station?” and received this reply.
Based on current information, it is not confirmed whether the dog breed Bedlington Terriers will be attending the opening of the new Bedlington station, which is expected to open in early 2026 as part of the Northumberland Line. While the town is famous for the breed, no official event details have confirmed their presence at the opening.
If they did, the story would spread everywhere.
Will The Builders Move On To The Leamside Line?
The Leamside Line could be the next one to be rebuilt, as it’s just on the other side of the Tyne.
Or they could extend the Northumberland Line to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
But who knows with this Government?
Will the Liverpool Street Rebuild Include Elizabeth Line Improvements?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
Yes, the proposed redevelopment of London Liverpool Street Station includes improvements to integration with the Elizabeth line, aiming for a fully accessible, multi-modal, and spacious hub. The plans focus on better connecting the main concourse with the Elizabeth line, Underground, and local transport, alongside doubling the concourse size, adding new, more efficient lifts, and increasing the number of ticket barriers.
Will The Liverpool Street Rebuild Have More Platforms?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
The approved £1bn+ redevelopment of London Liverpool Street Station, greenlit in February 2026, focuses on increasing capacity and accessibility rather than adding new platforms. The plans, to be completed by mid-2036, involve enlarging the concourse by 76%, increasing lifts/escalators, and providing step-free access to all existing platforms.
Platform Changes: While there is no mention of increasing the total number of train platforms, the project will significantly improve access and reduce congestion.
Capacity Enhancements: The project includes a 76% increase in concourse capacity.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Escalators will increase from four to ten, and eight new lifts will be installed.
Accessibility: The project aims to provide full step-free access across all rail and underground platforms.
New Construction: A large, multi-story office building is planned above the station, and the concourse area will be redesigned for better flow.
The project aims to handle over 200 million passengers annually by the time it is finished.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the layout of tracks in the station.
Note.
- The square block in the middle of the map are Platforms 1-18 of the main station.
- Eighteen is in the East and 1 is in the West.
- The Central Line of the London Underground runs diagonally in blue under the main station.
- Running in orange from the West to the North-East in front of the station is the Elizabeth Line.
- Running South of Lizzie in blue are the sub-surface lines of the London Underground.
I wonder, if at some point in the distant future, a terminal platform or two could be added to the very deep Elizabeth Line, that connected to tunnels underneath Liverpool Street station.
This second OpenRailwayMap shows the sub-surface lines and the Elizabeth Line, as they pass across in front of Liverpool Street station.
Note.
- Moorgate Station is in the North-West corner of the map
- Moorgate Statation has two virtually unused west facing bay platforms.
- The sub-surface lines are shown in blue.
- The Elizabeth Line is shown in orange.
- Finsbury Circus is in the middle of the map, with the sub-surface lines underneath.
- The Central Line is shown in blue and crosses between Finsbury Square and Liverpool Street station on its way to Bank.
- In front of Liverpool Street station, there is a disused bay platform on the sub-surface lines.
- The Bank branch of the Northern Line and the Great Northern run North from Moorgate station.
- Access to the Great Northern could be improved.
I feel there is scope for more trains to be run on the sub-surface lines through Moorgate and Liverpool Street.
- Accessibility to the sub-surface lines at Moorgate and Liverpool Street station could be improved.
- There has been talk of extending some services to Barking.
There is certainly scope to improve the sub-surface lines.
Planning Approval Granted For Network Rail’s Transformation Of Liverpool Street — Britain’s Busiest Station
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in Rail Technology Magazine.
This is the sub-heading.
Network Rail has secured a major milestone in the redevelopment of Liverpool Street station, following the City of London Planning Committee’s resolution on 10 February to grant full planning permission for the long‑awaited transformation of the UK’s busiest rail hub.
These two paragraphs adds some more detail.
The Eastern Region’s Anglia Route will oversee the upgrade, which aims to futureproof the station for decades as passenger numbers continue to grow sharply. Liverpool Street, last redeveloped in 1991, now handles 118 million passenger movements each year, and demand is projected to rise by 35%, reaching 158 million by 2041.
Looking further ahead, planners expect the station will need to accommodate over 200 million annual journeys, making capacity enhancement essential for maintaining operational performance and customer experience across London, East Anglia and the wider east of England.
To say this is a large project would be a massive understatement and I wish, that this could have been the last project planned and built by the Artemis project management system, that I wrote in a Suffolk attic fifty years ago.
This list summarises the work that will be done.
- 76% increase in overall concourse capacity
- 23% expansion of the lower concourse to smooth passenger flow
- Step‑free access from street to all platforms, including every Underground line for the first time
- Eight new large lifts, replacing the existing four‑person unit
- Escalators increased from four to ten
- New accessible entrances and intuitive wayfinding from Broadgate, Exchange Square, and key interchange points
- Toilets on all levels, including Changing Places facilities and family amenities
Respecting Heritage While Creating New Spaces
The project safeguards the station’s Victorian character, with the iconic trainshed fully preserved. The redevelopment will also create new vantage points overlooking the heritage structures, bringing passengers visually closer to the original architecture.
Above the concourse, a new office building featuring a publicly accessible roof garden will provide one of London’s most sustainably connected workplaces, directly supporting the City Corporation’s long‑term growth and employment aspirations.
Around twenty major contractors and professional firms will be handling the transformation.
Hopefully, I will be able to watch this project as it grows to occupy its place in the City of London.
Do Coeliacs Suffer Badly From Sepsis?
As everybody seems to be getting this these days, I just had to ask Google AI the question in the title of this post.
This is the reply I received.
Sepsis Outcome: While celiac patients are more likely to get sepsis, studies indicate that celiac disease does not significantly influence the survival or prognosis once a patient has developed sepsis.
Are There Some People Who Lose Their B12 Very Quickly?
Many years ago in Suffolk, I was sure, that my three-monthly B12-injection wasn’t done correctly.
It was by a trainee, so I told my GP and she may have repeated the injection. Perhaps the trainee missed the muscle or something?
I’m not sure, but I may have had a repeat injection.
I had another B12 injection about ten days ago and twice in the last two days, I have had symptoms that could be low B12 levels.
Yesterday at one point, I thought I was having a stroke, but a hot bath seemed to improve things.
I then found a Marks & Spencer Liver & Bacon meal-for-one and cooked it, but just eating the Liver & bacon.
I seemed to do the trick.
Today, coming home with shopping, my left leg was painful and so I asked Dr. Google AI for some advice.
I asked if “If low B12 is connected to red feet” and received this answer.
Low vitamin B12 is strongly connected to foot issues, primarily causing peripheral neuropathy that manifests as burning sensations, numbness, tingling (“pins and needles”), and sometimes, color changes like redness, purple, or white due to reduced blood flow or nerve damage. It causes nerve damage, which can lead to painful or “burning” feet.
Key Connections Between B12 Deficiency and Foot Symptoms:
Peripheral Neuropathy: A, the lack of B12 damages the myelin sheath covering nerves, resulting in burning, numbness, or tingling in the feet.
Reduced Blood Flow/Color Changes: Deficiency can lead to, significantly colder feet that may appear red, white, or purple due to impaired circulation.
Painful Sensations: Often described as a burning feeling, which can make feet feel hot or tender.
Muscle Issues: Weakness, cramping, and poor coordination can affect mobility.
Note:
- I certainly had pins and needles in my hands, yesterday.
It certainly, looked to me that I might have had low B12.
‘A Rare Opportunity’: Northern Will Run Service Along Heritage Railway Line For The First Time And Tickets Are Now On Sale
The title of this post, is the as that of this news item from Northern Trains.
This is the sub-heading.
Northern will run a service along a heritage railway line for the first time, to raise money for charity.
These four paragraphs add detail to the story.
Tickets are now on sale for the service, which will set off from Darlington station on Sunday, 22 February and complete a return trip along Weardale Railway before heading back to Darlington.
Northern has been working closely with Weardale Railway to organise this event.
The railway, which opened in 1847, is a popular tourist attraction and allows visitors to travel on heritage trains along a picturesque 16-mile route. It runs between Bishop Auckland West and Stanhope in County Durham.
In 2020, it was saved from administration by The Auckland Project, which has since provided significant investment to fund essential repairs and infrastructure improvements.
Note.
- The train will be one of Northern’s Class 158 trains.
- Tickets are being sold for £25 and the proceeds will be donated to two local charities: The Angel Trust, based in Bishop Auckland, and 123help4familys, based in Stanhope.
- The train will leave Darlington at 09:46 and finishes its trips up and down the Weardale Line at Darlington at 17:44.
I won’t be going, as I can’t fit the day together.
Is There Support For An Extended Service From Bishop Auckland?
I asked Google AI, this question, and got this mildly surprising answer.
Yes, there is support for extended services in Bishop Auckland, primarily through NHS GP extended access, which provides appointments outside of normal hours (6 PM – 8 PM weekdays and weekends) at Bishop Auckland Hospital. The Urgent Treatment Centre is available 24/7, and various community-based support services, including care agencies and mental health support, are also available.
If the hospital and the other medical facilities are open, surely in a rural area, if they are needed, transport should be available.
Is There A Need For More Housing In Bishop Auckland?
Yes, there is a significant, documented need for more housing in Bishop Auckland to address a, “chronic shortage of quality bungalows and assisted living” alongside a broader demand for modern, energy-efficient homes. The town is undergoing a regeneration with plans for increased, “affordable housing” and “100% affordable” developments (e.g., in “Westerton Road” and “Holdforth Crescent”) to meet the growing population and “economic needs”.
Note.
- A regular service to Darlington may make building more housing viable.
- Judging by the amount of new houses along the Northumberland Line, the new railway has encouraged their building.
Services and stations could be added as required, as appears to be being done on the Northumberland Line.
The Anonymous Widower 