Brian Yusem is a Nutritionist and a Fitness Expert who specializes in overall wellness programs.

Brian Yusem is a Nutritionist and a Fitness Expert, based in Boca Raton, Florida. He runs a nutritional coaching and counseling facility, Smart Life MD that specializes in overall wellness programs. A brief interview with him revealed some important information about proteins. Here are the questions answered by Brian:

Why are proteins important?

Proteins are very important nutrients as they are involved in muscle growth & repair, maintain healthy skin & hair, provide defense against foreign bodies, regulate metabolism, etc.

Proteins build the framework of the body, including muscles, organs, bones, and connective tissues.

Proteins in the form of enzymes help the body digest food; as hormones, they tell the body when to use food as energy and when to store it as fat. Proteins also transport oxygen through the blood to the muscles and organs. Proteins as antibody protect the body from illness when viruses and bacteria attack.

What are the various sources of proteins?

There are various foods that contain proteins such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, pulses, nuts, seeds, soya products and vegetables.

Are all proteins alike?

All proteins are not alike. Some proteins are complete and some are incomplete. Basically, there are around twenty amino acids that provide the raw material for all proteins. Some of the proteins that you eat contain all the amino acids needed to build new proteins and are called complete proteins. While some of the proteins that you eat lack one or more essential amino acids -- such proteins are called incomplete proteins.

Which proteins fall under the category of complete and incomplete proteins?

Proteins from animals tend to be complete, and proteins from grains, nuts, vegetables and fruits fall under the incomplete category. Therefore, it is very important for vegetarians to eat a variety of protein-containing foods every day.

What proteins we should eat or avoid?

A low-fat protein food helps you keep your heart healthy, maintain low levels of cholesterol, and minimize the risk of developing heart related diseases and disorders. If you can, you should eat a low-fat protein food, and you should avoid proteins that bloat. Proteins that bloat are not for you and you should avoid such proteins.