Think about the last glass of wine, pint of beer, or shot of vodka you consumed. Do you know how those drinks affect your brain with every sip that passes your lips?

The brain is made up of many sections that communicate with each other very quickly through the use of nerve cells called neurons.

When I went to medical school, way back in the 20^th Century, medical students were taught there were two kinds of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes was caused by a lack of insulin (the hormone that lowers blood sugar), started in childhood and occurred in kids whose weight was normal. Type 2 Diabetes was when the body did not respond well to insulin. Even though there was plenty of insulin in the blood stream, sugar levels tended to be high because the body could not sense it.  Type 2 Diabetes was said to start in overweight adults. If I had answered a test question on Type 2 Diabetes by saying it was common among children, my answer would have been marked wrong. I may have been laughed out of school and had to pick something different to do with my life.

Did you know that according to the California Department of Health Care Services, one in every nine California children and one in every three California teens are already overweight or obese?  Many of these same children are at risk for developing -- or have already developed -- obesity-related health problems. And if your family has a history of obesity, your child has an even higher risk of becoming overweight.

This month, Solano County joins the American Public Health Association and communities around the country in activities designed to encourage active and healthy lifestyles.

We are fortunate to live in such a diverse area. A short drive to the south and we can enjoy all the Bay Area has to offer.  Just a few hours to the north and we are soon building snow men and engaging in a snow ball fight. Now that the weather is cooperating and there is snow to be found in Tahoe, we must take precautions to keep our children safe when we are enjoying the colder weather.