Metabolism is the combination of reactions that happen within your body as it turns food and drink into fuel. It provides you with energy, and burns calories.

It also helps with blood circulation, breathing, digestion, hormone regulation, body temperature, and growth and repair of cells.

Some people have slow metabolism, so their body needs fewer calories to keep going (and it's easy to gain weight). That can be the result of genetics, age, or a sedentary lifestyle.

But according to Harvard Health, you can speed your metabolism by doing interval training, muscle-building exercises, eating plenty of (lean) protein, and even drinking three cups of green tea a day. A meta-study in the journal Obesity Reviews found that it helps burn an additional 100 calories daily.

Certain spices can also contribute to a robust metabolism. Those include cumin, chili peppers, turmeric (and its super-ingredient curcumin), ginger, and cinnamon.

Cumin helps control blood sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes, a major metabolic disease.

Chili peppers (with capsaicin, the "hot" component) help shed body fat.

Turmeric and the curcumin it contains help reduce weight, waist circumference, and body fat, boosting metabolism.

Ginger can reduce your waist-hip ratio.

Cinnamon contains an essential oil called cinnamaldehyde that increases calorie burning.

Adopt a healthy plant-based diet and add these spices to steamed or roasted veggies, plant-based soups and stews, and salmon and (skinless) chicken dishes. For recipes, check out my "What to Eat When Cookbook."

And don't miss getting 10,000 steps or the equivalent daily.