The report on The Role of Red Meat in Healthy Australian Diets concluded that lean red meat plays an important dietary role throughout the life cycle as it:

• Is a core food in the diet for children and adolescents because it provides significant amounts of well absorbed iron and zinc, essential for brain development.
• Lowers the glycaemic load when it replaces carbohydrate-rich foods and may help with acne.
• Assists the elderly in meeting adequate levels of protein, vitamin B12 and iron at low energy intakes.