Fruit flies share many genes with humans and hence these findings can be applied to mankind as well. The study conducted by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong involved fruit flies, which were either fed a normal diet or fed a diet that was supplemented with apple extract.

The researchers found that fruit flies that were fed a normal diet lived for 50 days, but those who received apple extract lived for 55 days or 10% longer than their counterparts.

Reporting in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers said that fruit flies that were fed the apple extracts also had lower levels of certain biochemicals linked to age-related deterioration. They theorize that the apple antioxidants reduce the levels of free radicals that are linked to the aging process.

The benefits of consuming apples appeared to be reinforced by another study, which revealed that women who regularly ate apples had a reduced risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes as compared to those who did not.

Apple has always been regarded as a healthy fruit, not only for its taste, but also for the benefits it confers in terms of preventing disease processes. The Daily Mail reports that the genetic code of apple has been cracked, which will allow researchers to produce juicier and crunchier fruits filled with antioxidants.

A variety of apples are available on the market and with studies highlighting the health benefits of the fruit, the demand will only grow in future.