Whoever told you that caffeine is 100% bad for you has been proved wrong yet again, according to the findings of one recent study.

Researchers at Stanford University have managed to prove that a few extra cups of coffee can reduce – or even prevent – age-related inflammation in the body.

Findings from 100 people showed that older participants had higher levels of an inflammatory protein called IL-1-beta than their younger counterparts. This protein can be responsible for a great number of health problems including a bigger risk of stiff arteries and high blood pressure.

After investigating why older people showed lower activation of the genes that encode the IL-1-beta protein, researchers found an interesting link. The participants that reported consuming more caffeinated drinks (and had a higher amount of caffeine in their blood) generally demonstrated a lower activation of the genes that cause inflammation.

Taking this finding even further, an experiment on human cells in lab dishes was carried out. The results definitively showed that caffeine prevents inflammation in cells.

These findings “may explain why caffeine consumption correlates with lower blood pressure,” professor of microbiology and immunology Mark Davis told Live Science. They may also shed some light on why coffee drinkers tend to live longer than those who abstain from the high-in-caffeine beverage.

So carry on the coffee binge. It might even be good for you.