Do you want to know the secret behind Michelle Obama’s youthful looks? It’s nothing but Swiss apple! A rare Swiss apple with an exceptionally long shelf-life has been found to be the secret behind US First Lady Michelle Obama’s youthful looks.

What is ‘super apple’?

According to the US edition of Vogue, the-mum-of two buys a 215 pounds serum, which uses an extract from the stem cells of the Uttwiler Spdtlauber apple. Dubbed as “the super apple” by the magazine, it is used in creams and serums.

How it works:

The stem cells from the fruit are said to excite human skin stem cells to protect skin cell regeneration and delay the onset of wrinkles. Despite its long shelf-life, the apple has not been considered desirable until now because of its tart taste.

Swiss scientists at Mibelle Biochemistry has found that the key to the apple’s longevity lay chiefly in its unusually resilient stem cells. The apple’s stem cells nourished and stimulated human stem cells and defended them against UV radiation.

They made a cream containing a two per cent Uttwiler Spdtlauber extract and applied it twice daily to the “crow’s feet” area under the eyes of 20 participants. They found that wrinkle depth was reduced by an average of 15 per cent after four weeks.

“We thought there must be something in those apples which gives them their long shelf life,” the Telegraph quoted Beata Hurst, marketing and sales manager at Mibelle Biochemistry as saying. “We could show that the apple stem cells have a positive influence on the vitality of the skin stem cells. They made them more efficient and they can live longer,” Hurst added. At present there are only 20 Uttwiller Spdtlauber trees in Switzerland.

We’ve compiled some tips from Nutritionist John Erickson of Zone Delivery USA, on how to follow in Mrs. Obama’s footsteps. Not only will you be healthy, but you’ll have a rockin’ bod like the first lady!

- Use your hand to determine portion control

Size of hand: Carbohydrates, very little starches

Size of palm: Protein including chicken, fish, beef, turkey, egg whites, low fat cheeses, tofu, etc.

Size of thumb: Fats and oils, nuts, avocado and olives

- Drinking a large glass of water before eating a meal will slow you down and help reduce calorie intake.

- Select a portion of food before eating instead of snacking directly from the food source, i.e. eating from a container.

- Physical activity is the best way to burn calories. Take small steps to getting active, like forgoing the elevator to opt for the stairs.

- When eating out at restaurants, don’t clean your plate. Most restaurants serve portions far beyond a healthy serving.

- You don’t have to deprive yourself. Even Mrs. Obama has admitted that some of her favorite foods include macaroni and cheese and French fries. It’s all about portion control and balance.