To the delight of caffeine addicts everywhere, Bloomberg recently reported that a government-appointed panel of scientists have discovered that coffee is actually good for your health. Don’t bog it down with sweeteners, they were sure to add—but otherwise, you can now guzzle that cup of Joe without the guilt.
According to the report, drinking three to five cups of coffee a day is not associated with any long-term health risks. In fact, drinking that much coffee each day could actually even reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
Tom Brenna, a member of the panel mentioned above, said to Bloomberg, “Coffee’s good stuff. I don’t want to go implying coffee cures cancer—nobody thinks that. But there is no evidence for increased risk, if anything, the other way around.”
However, be careful—just because coffee isn’t associated with any unhealthy side effects doesn’t mean that your caffeinated beverage of choice is now magically healthy. Drinks like lattes and cappuccinos are heavy on cream and sugar, which can be full of calories and should be consumed in moderation.
That said, the next time that you’re looking for an afternoon pick-me-up and you’re drawn toward the Starbucks line, don’t feel bad! Sip on your coffee with a smug smile, because experts finally agreed that your caffeine habit isn’t unhealthy.