Another Reason to Skip Diet Drinks

Drinking diet soda is linked to depression? And drinking coffee may keep you happier? Yes, according the results from a National Institutes of Health study. The study evaluated beverage consumption (teas, fruit punch, soda, diet teas, coffee...) of over 264,000 adults (ages 50 to 71) from 1995-1996. The researchers then went back to that same group ten years later to ask about how many had been diagnosed with depression? The answer: 11,311 had been diagnosed.

What was striking about the results is: Those who had 4 or more sodas per day were 30-percent more likely to have depression. Those who had 4 or more cans of fruit punch per day were 36-percent more likely to develop depression. The biggest risk of depression was among those drinking diet soda, diet teas or other artificially sweetened beverages. Those that had 4 or more cups of coffee per day had a 10-percent lower risk of developing depression.

The bottom-line: replace sugary and artificially sweetened drinkings with unsweetened options like:
- water
- plain coffee or tea
- decaf herbal teas
- water
- mineral water
- seltzer water

The results of the study will be officially presented in March 2013 at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting.