Soda, or pop, is quite maligned lately, joining the lowly ranks of candy and sugary sweets. Some researchers even warn against diet soda, claiming it could lead to a loss of calcium. And of course, 'regular' soda is being blamed for contributing to weight gain and diabetes.

ARE SOFT DRINKS the new enemy to good health? It certainly seems so as some schools and businesses have banished the sugary substances from cafeterias and company canteens. But are they really all that bad for you?

Registered dietitian Roberta Jupp thinks so.

"One ounce of soda has about one teaspoon of sugar in it," says Jupp, a diabetes educator with Palmetto Health Richland. As Jupp explains, one teaspoon of sugar equals about 16 calories. In a 12-ounce serving of soda, that's more than 180 calories.

"That's like eating a small sandwich, only without the nutritional value," says Jupp, adding that the body was "just not designed" to process that kind of sugar intake over a long period. At least not without consequences, she says, referring to excess weight gain or Type II diabetes she sees in the patients she advises.

"That's why I tell my patients not to drink their calories. That way you can have more on your plate, and you won't be taking in as many simple sugars. ... They tend to enter the bloodstream and raise blood-sugar levels quicker than complex carbohydrates," says Jupp. This can wreak havoc on the body's ability to process and store energy.

What do you think? Would you give up your favorite soda pop?