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If you’re a coffee fan, keep on sipping. The beverage may keep diabetes at bay.

After they studied 126,210 women and men, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that big-time coffee drinkers — those who downed more than 6 daily cups — had a 29 percent to 54 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes during the 18-year study. Sipping 4 to 5 cups cut risk about 29 percent; 1 to 3 cups per day had little effect. Decaf coffee offered no protection. Caffeine in other forms — tea, soda, chocolate — did. Researchers suspect that caffeine may help by boosting metabolism. And coffee, the major caffeine source in the study, also contains potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants that help cells absorb sugar.

But before you become a VIP at Dunkin Donuts, remember that a medium chain-store cuppa is about 14 to 16 ounces — right there, that’s 2 “cups” by standard measures. Discover these 25 ridiculously healthy foods