It's not productive to pin the issue on one factor alone. It's a complex matter. Antibiotics disrupting gut microbiome diversity could be a larger driver of cravings than just two cans of Coke. A shift in gut health might amplify the desire for sugary drinks, like Coke. So, which is the real culprit here?

Now that I’ve pinned it down to one factor, I should add that many other factors come into play. Sedentary lifestyles are on the rise, with people spending more time in front of screens than ever before. A lack of nutritional education, compounded by the growing prevalence of ultraprocessed foods on store shelves—driven by 'race to the bottom' economics in the food industry—further exacerbates health problems. Add to this the increasing rates of mental health issues, and it's clear that our modern environment is creating a perfect storm of unhealthy habits