Are we too fixated on protein?

6 Minute English

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 October 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We know that protein is important for our health. It plays a crucial role in many of the body's functions, including growth, repair, the immune system and, of course, building muscles! But has our love for protein come at the expense of other important food groups, like fibre? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.

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Transcript

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0:45.5	Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
0:50.2	And I'm Georgie. Neil, we're talking about protein today. What type of protein do you usually eat?
0:57.0	Well, I like all kinds of proteins, fish, a bit of chicken, but I think I really like an egg.
1:04.2	An egg is my favourite kind of protein.
1:06.3	I was going to say that too. I'm a big fan of breakfast foods and eggs are my favourite.
1:11.9	Well, you can't beat a good breakfast. Of all the main food groups, such as carbohydrate, fat and fibre, it's protein that seems to be most in the news.
1:21.9	In shops and on social media, you'll find all kinds of high protein foodsotein foods being advertised, from shakes and yoghts
1:29.0	to chocolate. Here's Ruth Alexander, presenter of BBC World Service program, The Food Chain.
1:35.5	Cast your eye over most aisles in the supermarkets now, and you'll see high-protein products
1:40.5	in abundance, pasta made with lentils and chickpeas rather than wheat flour, bread
	...

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