Volatile and destructive intracellular biochemical interactions involving “free radicals” – molecules in which the electrical charge is not balanced – can result in oxidation, a process which can be deleterious to cells of the body.  A number of studies have suggested an interventive role for antioxidant compounds in counteracting free radical damage.  In that apples are a rich source of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, Zhen-Yu Chen, from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (China), and colleagues investigated the role of apple polyphenols on the lifespan of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster).  Not only did apple polyphenols prolong the average lifespan by an average of 10%, but the compound helped preserve the animals’ ability to walk, climb and move about. In addition, apple polyphenols reversed the levels of various biochemical substances found in older fruit flies that mark age-related deterioration and death. The researchers also report on findings from other studies, including one in which women who often ate apples had a 13 to 22% decrease in the risk of heart disease.