When thinking of a nutritious and balanced diet, protein is often the macronutrient that comes up the most. But some scientists say the modern emphasis placed on protein may not be necessary – and could even be overkill. Recent studies are now claiming that protein is not the be-all and end-all of nutrition.
This is not to say that including protein in a balanced diet isn't important. But scientific researchers and doctors themselves are now publishing reports that say a massive intake of protein is not the best bet for a healthy diet.
Protein is "key to keeping the body functioning properly, but people are likely eating too much of it", according to the Harvard School of Public Health. The World Health Organization recommends that the average person eat 0.01 ounces of protein per pound of body weight daily. But the typical diet reveals that "men and women are eating, on average, 2.9 ounces (82.2 grams) of protein a day and for most people this is at least 20% beyond recommendations", said the BBC's Science Focus.
Experts say there's no data to suggest that our bodies can use more than 0.008 ounces (227 milligrams) of protein per pound of body weight at a single meal, which "for most of us would equate to a large chicken breast", said The Washington Post.
In place of protein, fibre is "amazingly helpful in many ways", said former Vox senior health correspondent Julia Belluz. And the "most fibre-rich foods happen to be plants: beans, avocados, berries, whole grains, broccoli, potatoes, nuts and dried fruit", which can also provide protein. | 
