It’s true that endurance athletes require more protein than their sedentary counterparts. And while many athletes meet or exceed the recommended daily protein requirement, they may not be distributing their protein intake appropriately. Consuming too much protein can be as risky as not having enough. Excess protein increases the production of ammonia (as a waste product), which the body eliminates via urine and sweat. As a result, ridding the body of ammonia requires adequate hydration to process the waste. Alternatively, inadequate protein intake can negatively affect the formation of hormones and enzymes and hinder muscle recovery/repair post workout.