According to research from the American Academy of Neurology, you may want to rethink your drink if you want to reduce your risk of future depression. For this study, researchers evaluated the beverage intakes of over 260,000 adults age 50 or older for a one year period of time. 10 years later they reconnected with the study participants to find out whether they had developed depression.

Study subjects who reported drinking more than 4 cups or cans of soda daily were 30 percent more likely to develop depression. Those consuming 4 cans of fruit drinks daily upped their depression risk by 38%. Considering diet vs. regular versions, the risks were even higher for diet sodas, diet fruit drinks, and diet iced teas. I strongly recommend that all sugary beverages and diet drinks be avoided. Both have been linked in past studies to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

If you enjoy java like I do, you will be pleased to know that this same evaluation found that drinking four cups of unsweetened coffee a day was linked to 10% lower risk of clinical depression.

(American Academy of Neurology January 8, 2013)