Your metabolism is the process your body undertakes to convert food into energy. Your basal metabolic rate---the amount of calories you need for basic functions like pumping blood and repairing cells---is determined by your size, amount of lean muscle mass, gender, genetics and age. To a lesser degree, your metabolism is also affected by the foods you eat---certain foods require more energy for digestion---and the physical activity you do during the day, reports the Mayo Clinic website. Supplement manufacturers also boast they can help you boost your metabolism.
Faster Weight Loss
Weight loss is a matter of burning more calories than you consume. A higher metabolism increases your body's burn rate, making it easier to create a gap between calories burned and calories consumed.
Heartier Diet
A higher metabolism also helps you maintain a healthy weight. If your body needs more calories to simply function, you can eat more without piling on the pounds. Instead of having to subsist on a near starvation diet to drop pounds, a higher metabolism means you can eat satisfying portions and still lose weight. Even people with an increased metabolism can exceed their daily caloric needs, however. Do this on a regular basis and you will experience weight gain.
Less Time at the Gym
Physical activity is critical to your health and weight loss efforts, but few people enjoy spending their entire day working out. But if you build muscle through physical activity, you have a higher metabolic rate. With a higher metabolism, you can experience a higher daily calorie burn when at rest. American College of Sports Medicine recommends you exercise 30 minutes, five days per week, to help you to achieve a healthy weight.
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