Chickapea Pasta Talks Protein With Matt Gullia From Boss. Supplements!

With 23 grams of protein per serving, Chickapea pasta is a food body builders and athletes can get behind. Why is protein so important though? What’s all the rage about? We visited fitness professional and competitor Matt Gullia at BOSS Supplements in Barrie, Ontario, to find out.

Protein is essential to building and maintaining a lean, healthy physique of any type, but many believe it is only used to gain size. In this post we will be debunking common thoughts about protein that are not true, providing you with information to aid you in finding healthy ways to consume protein. We’ve also included a couple links to recipes using Chickapea Pasta which pack protein and taste delicious!

Protein? Why?

Minutes into our conversation Matt revealed to us that protein gets a worse wrap than we believe. When a new customer arrives at BOSS, they assess their fitness goals to suggest the right products that can actually make a difference. Almost always the first thing Matt likes to suggest to any active adult with a busy schedule is a protein powder. They jump to protein because it ensures their body is getting the supply of energy it needs to perform at its best. Astonishingly, however, Matt is commonly met with looks of confusion from some customers by the thought of adding protein to their diet. Why? Read on…

“I don’t lift weights so I don’t need protein…”

Matt revealed to us that many healthy, active individuals do not know that protein is a supplier of the building blocks needed to repair broken down/damaged tissue from any physical exertion your body may endure. Protein’s first job in your body’s ecosystem is to act as its handy-person when things need to be fixed. When you push your body to do something physical it expends energy and breaks down muscle tissue in the process. In order for these tissues to be rebuilt, your body needs protein to come in and help with maintenance.

Your body is like a car, it runs on fuel and needs maintenance in order to perform at its best so you can fulfill all the tasks in that busy schedule. Without protein, your body cannot repair itself, leaving it unable to build muscle, produce energy and ultimately make you healthier. No matter your health goals, your body can only attain those goals by taking in the appropriate amounts of protein.

“I don’t want to look like Arnold!”

Protein too often gets associated with bodybuilders, which causes a stigma for those who are not always fond of the physical appearance extensive weight lifting can do to your body.

“Before my show, I was at 3% body fat,” says Matt. There is no way I could maintain that physique all the time, it is just not sustainable”

As a fitness competitor himself, Matt has times where he puts his body through excessive maintenance, physical exertion, and monitoring for a competition. It’s important to remember that bodybuilding is a competitive sport and turning your body into that extreme of a physique does not happen from protein or by accident. These are trained professionals who know what they are doing and make tremendous sacrifices to attain them.

Protein cannot be stored by your body. When protein is consumed it is converted into amino acids once digested and distributed to your body’s cells in order to repair and build new proteins for cells your body needs, and any leftover is then converted into energy.

Matt made it clear to us that protein doesn’t cause you to gain size, an excess of calories do. Sources of protein have calories – the higher the protein, the higher the calories in most cases. If you intake more calories than your body can burn in a day, then you will gain size, it’s just that simple.

How much protein do I need?

Health Canada is among numerous other organizations which state an individual needs 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of weight. If you’re 150 lbs (68kg) then you need about 54 grams of protein per day. Of course, this RDA increases with increased activity such as weight lifting, yoga, hiking etc.

Do I need to rely on supplements for protein?

No matter your dietary restrictions or preferences, there is no shortage of sources of protein in the world. In most cases, protein supplements are a great way to ensure you’re getting the required amount of protein you need a day in one convenient go. It’s not always easy to remember three full meals with snacks in between, let alone remember to track your protein per meal, so for those days you just don’t have time, a protein shake can provide your body with that extra energy it needs.

Please let us be clear, it is completely possible to support a protein packed diet on whole foods alone, just remember it all comes down to monitoring your protein and calorie intake. Eating a variety of foods through the day is also important to ensure you’re consuming all the amino acids. Once you calculate your recommended protein intake it’s easy to plan your meals according to how much protein is in each source.

Don’t Forget: When Calories in = Calories Out, Your Body Will Perform, No Doubt!

Everyone in the world isn’t a fitness competitor like Matt or goes to the gym regularly for that matter. We all have obligations and priorities and it’s often our body’s health that suffers, but adding a few protein-packed meals to your lunch box each week will give your body that little extra energy boost it needs and fuel to build the muscles that get the job done!