By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Oct 10 2025 Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between everyday soft drink habits and mental health, revealing that even moderate soda consumption could alter gut microbes in ways that heighten depression risk, especially among women. Study: Soft Drink Consumption and Depression Mediated by Gut Microbiome Alterations . Image credit: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock.com Consumption of soft drinks is linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease,