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Sometimes to boost the mind, we look for a sweet treat, with sugary drinks being a go-to for many. However, a recent new study is suggesting the exact opposite! To boost mood, maybe we need less soda!

A new scientific study suggests that people who drink sugary drinks may be more likely to have major depression, especially women. In this recent research, women who drank more soft drinks were observed to be about 17% more likely for a diagnosis for depression than women who drank fewer sugary beverages. This includes not only soda, but also drinks like lemonade. 

Consumption levels were also associated with symptom severity. This study, which is part of a larger project that began in 2014, looked at over 900 adults aged 18 to 65 and compared people with a clinical diagnosis of depression to people without. 

Researchers also found that certain bacteria in the gut — especially a kind called Eggerthella — were more common in women who drank more soft drinks and also had depression. This pattern suggests that soft drinks might affect mental health through changes in the gut microbiome, the community of tiny organisms living in our stomach and intestines. The study did not find this link in men, and it did not prove that soft drinks cause depression — only that they are associated with each other. It also did not distinguish between specific associations with sugar-sweetened drinks versus those that are artificially sweetened.

Experts pointed out that perhaps people with depression might drink more soft drinks as a result of feeling depressed, so it’s not yet clear which direction the relationship goes. The increase in depression risk and severity of symptoms tied to soft drinks was relatively small, but because these drinks are so common, even a small link could be worth more research as it ultimately impacts a lot of people. 

One reason this research matters is that diet is a modifiable part of life — it’s something people can change more easily than many other health risk factors.  The findings also add to a growing body of research suggesting that what we eat and drink may influence mental health, not just physical health. But there are still big questions. Scientists need additional studies and experiments to determine whether reducing soft drink intake really lowers the risk and severity of depression.