A recent study published in Nutrients has raised new concerns about the impact of certain beverages on mental health — specifically, soft drinks. While coffee is often blamed for causing anxiety and jitters due to its caffeine content, this research reveals that soda may be even more anxiety-inducing than coffee or tea, particularly among individuals with higher body mass indexes (BMI) and preexisting depressive symptoms.

Soft drinks linked to higher anxiety: A study published in Nutrients found that individuals who consumed two or more soft drinks daily experienced more severe anxiety symptoms than those who drank fewer than one per week — more so than those who consumed coffee or tea.

Study population details: The research focused on 1,025 adults aged 18–75 from four European countries, all with BMIs between 25–40 (clinically overweight/obese) and some depressive symptoms, suggesting the results may not generalize to the broader population.

Coffee and tea not linked to anxiety: Unlike soda, coffee and tea showed no significant association with anxiety or depression symptoms in this study, though individual reactions to caffeine may still vary based on genetics.

Healthier drink alternatives recommended: To potentially reduce anxiety, experts suggest cutting back on soda and considering options like coffee, kombucha, fresh juices, sparkling water and tea while avoiding artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which may negatively affect mood and brain function.

Drinking this beverage could be increasing your anxiety, study finds

The study examined data from the MooDFOOD depression prevention trial, which included 1,025 participants aged 18 to 75 from the Netherlands, UK, Germany, and Spain. All participants had BMIs between 25 and 40 kg/m² (classified as overweight or obese) and experienced some level of depressive symptoms. Researchers found that those who consumed two or more cans of carbonated soft drinks per day exhibited significantly more severe anxiety symptoms compared to those who drank less than one soda per week.

In contrast, the study did not find a significant relationship between coffee or tea consumption and anxiety or depression levels in this specific population. This suggests that while some people may feel anxious after drinking caffeinated beverages, the link between caffeine and anxiety could be more individual and genetically influenced. Importantly, coffee and tea were not associated with heightened anxiety in this group.

The findings underscore the broader message that diet has a strong impact on mental health. Though the study's results are specific to a subset of individuals with higher BMI and existing mood disorders, they contribute to the growing body of evidence that links sugary, processed beverages — especially soda — to negative psychological outcomes.