Red meat is particularly rich in high-quality protein. \ Philip Doyle Animal-sourced foods, meat, fish, dairy and eggs, are nutrient-rich foods. In addition to being sources of high-biological value protein, many essential health promoting micro-nutrients are either most efficiently, or only, included in the human diet, through moderate consumption of animal-sourced foods. Red meat is particularly rich in high-quality protein and is an excellent source of bio-available iron selenium, zinc and vitamins B6 and B12 which are important for optimal muscle, bone and brain growth, development and maintenance. Recent analyses have concluded, that excessive red meat consumption may be linked to a very small number of deaths from cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. However, this evidence against excessive red meat consumption is not seen in all studies and is very likely to be confounded. It is therefore unreliable.