As a strength and endurance athlete, you know that you need more fuel than the average person to keep you going throughout the day, whether that day includes training, a race, or much-needed recovery. Athletes require at least 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day (about 55 grams of protein if you weigh 150 pounds), and protein from meat is an efficient source.

Related: Try These 7 Plant-Based Swaps Instead of Animal Protein-Based Meals

A boneless, 3.5-ounce piece of chicken or turkey contains close to 31 grams of protein, while the same amount of tempeh (a common plant-based source of protein) only contains about 18 grams. But should you worry about eating too much meat? Here's what you need to know.

Eating Too Much Meat: Should You Be Worried?

The Health Benefits of Consuming Meat for Athletes

Incorporating chicken and other lean meat into your meal plan can supply you with the protein you need, along with a whole host of other vitamins and minerals. Here's what you'll get in a typical serving of meat: 

Iron: Especially found in red meat, you need iron for circulation. It’s a necessary component of hemoglobin, a protein that helps transmit oxygen to your muscles and tissues. Also, the higher your iron intake, the lower your chance of having anemia.  

Zinc: One standard serving of lean beef contains almost half of the daily zinc requirement. This trace mineral is essential to keeping the immune system up and running, which is especially important for endurance athletes.

Selenium: This mineral is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It’s key to warding off autoimmune thyroid disease and keeping your reproductive system functioning normally, research states.  

B3: Also known as niacin, vitamin B3 helps lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and can also lower your LDL cholesterol. B3 supplements are an option, but there’s an abundance of the vitamin in beef, too.

Related: This Is Why Having High Cholesterol Might Not Be as Bad as You Think

B5: You can take vitamin B5 (also known as panthothenic acid) supplements, but it’s also present in many animal products. It contributes to healthy hair and nail growth, as well as red blood cell production.

B6: Any athlete needs their fill of Vitamin B6. It helps regulate cell metabolism, giving you the energy you need to get through a race.  

B12: Vitamin B12 is crucial to blood- and nerve-cell health, as well as the creation of DNA in your cells. Animal products are among the only dietary sources of B12 (otherwise, you’ll need a supplement).

Vitamins A, D, E, and K: “Meats contain other nutrients, such as fat, and can provide fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E, and K,” Rebecca Goodrich, MS, RDN, LDN, says. “The fat content in food helps you feel satiated.”

Because they are fat-soluble, these vitamins stay in your system longer.

Red Meat: The One to Watch

Red meat is higher in saturated fat than chicken and other lean-meat varieties, so it can put you at risk for clogged arteries and heart disease if you overdo it, studies have shown. To avoid raising your cancer risk, the American Society of Clinical Oncology advises capping your intake at 18 ounces per week.

Dialing down your intake of red meat and replacing it with lean poultry such as skinless chicken and turkey can lower risk, Goodrich explains. You can eat up to 6 ounces of lean poultry a day and stay healthy, as long as you’re not bathing it in heavy cream or frying it, of course.

Avoid Processed, Charred, and Smoked Meats as Much as Possible

And as always, if it's processed, it's probably not worth your while. Watch your intake of processed meats: sausages, bacon, hot dogs, and pre-packaged deli meats. Not only are they often high in saturated fat and sodium, but they could contain cancer-causing carcinogens, depending on how you cook them.

“When meats are cooked at high temperatures through charred grilling, smoking, and deep-frying, cancer-causing particles can be found,” Linzy Ziegelbaum, MS, RD, CDN, says.

Related: 5 Healthy, Easy Tricks to Take Your Grilling Game to the Next Level

You can still enjoy the occasional grilled burger or steak, but it’s best to bake meat, fish, and poultry in the oven rather than smoking them or frying them. Serve them with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to balance the meal, Ziegelbaum recommends.

Look for These Terms on Labels

Food labels can be perplexing, but the safest bet is certified organic meat.

“It means that antibiotics and growth hormones were never used,” Goodrich explains.

Bonus: Organic meats, dairy, and eggs tend to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional products, Goodrich says.

Also, consider the diet that the animal was raised on before purchasing, particularly if you’re buying red meat.

“The best choice is meat from grass-fed cattle, which have healthier fat profiles,” Ziegelbaum says. "Meat from grass-fed cattle also has more omega-3’s, credited with lowering inflammation."

Related: How Much Protein Do You Really Need to Build Muscle?

The bottom line when it comes to meat — and protein sources overall — is to vary your sources to maximize the benefits while minimizing negatives.

“You should include a variety of proteins in your diet, such as lean beef, pork, chicken, fish, beans, lentils, eggs, and nuts,” Ziegelbaum says. "As an athlete, you want to reap as many nutrients as possible from a variety of protein sources — your performance depends on it."