For residents of San Cristóbal de las Casas, a southeastern state of Chiapas in Mexico, soda isn’t an occasional drink; soda is their main source of hydration!

Soda Linked to Diabetes?

Due to decreasing rainfall, poor local infrastructure and (crucially) a huge Coca-Cola plant on the outskirts of San Cristóbal de las Casas that has a license to draw thousands of gallons of water every day from the local water reserves, locals end up drinking soda instead of water.

The presence and effect of the Coca-Cola plant is the subject of heated and emotional debate, but what’s also startling is how a daily diet that consists mainly of …