A regular and intense three-minute workout can do wonders in boosting your metabolism, says a new study.

According to Professor James Timmons, who worked with a team of researchers from Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Scotland, brief high-intensity exercises repeated in every couple of days may significantly take down the risk of diabetes. Timmons investigated the effect of 'high-intensity interval training' (HIT) on the metabolism of sixteen sedentary male participants, who used exercise bikes to perform a quick sprint at their highest possible intensity. It was found that there was a significant effect on their body's ability to process sugars.

He said, "The risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes is substantially reduced through regular physical activity. Unfortunately, many people feel they simply don't have the time to follow current exercise guidelines. "What we have found is that doing a few intense muscle exercises, each lasting only about 30 seconds, dramatically improves your metabolism in just two weeks." He continued, "Current guidelines, with regards to designing exercise regimes to yield the best health outcomes, may not be optimal and certainly require further discussion.