Can Your Choice of Beverage Cause Depression?

You’ve already heard that you are what you eat. Turns out, you are also what you drink. Something as simple as your choice of beverage could influence your risk of depression.

Soft drinks have been associated with a number of physical and mental health problems, but not much was known about their effect on depression until now.

This new study found that drinking soft drinks is associated with a significant 8% increase in the risk of depression and with more severe depressive symptoms. The association was especially strong in women.

Interestingly, soft drinks seem to contribute to depression by altering the gut microbiota.

This study suggests not only that soft drinks can contribute to depression but adds to the considerable body of evidence that improving the gut microbiome can improve depression.

JAMA Psychiatry. Published online September 24, 2025;doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.2579.

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