The Hidden Risks of Sweet Drinks Unveiled

Scientists have uncovered a surprising link between the beverages we choose and our mental well-being, suggesting that sipping on sweet drinks might nudge us toward depression and anxiety. Researchers from China’s Wenzhou Medical University explored this connection in a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

The findings stem from an analysis of 188,000 people aged 37 to 73, tracked over an average of 11 years. The team examined how different drinks tied into fresh cases of depression and anxiety, painting a clear picture of winners and losers in our daily sipping habits.

For those under 60, sugary drinks spelled trouble. Regular consumption of sodas and sugar-laden juices raised the risk of depression by 14 percent, while drinks with artificial sweeteners upped it by a striking 23 percent. On the flip side, those who opted for fresh fruit and vegetable juices or coffee saw their risks drop—by 19 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Among older adults, the link between sweet drinks and mental health didn’t hold. Yet, coffee and fresh juices continued to shine, lowering the odds of both depression and anxiety.

The researchers went further, testing what happens when you swap one drink for another. Trading soda for juice, for instance, slashed depression risk by 16 percent—a small shift with a notable payoff.

The team cautions that their work doesn’t prove drinks directly cause or prevent these conditions. Still, it’s a compelling hint that even modest tweaks to what we pour into our glasses could ripple through to our peace of mind.