Meat is good

Lately I've been reading two new books for meat lovers: Carnivore Chic (which has the U.S. title Meat: A Love Story) and The Shameless Carnivore.
Reading these two books has got me to thinking a little harder about the food I eat, and the "rightness" of my gustatory choices.
I've long considered myself a meat eater who wishes he could be a vegetarian.
I could see the health benefits of a low-fat vegetarian diet, and I am bothered by inhumane practices in meat industries. AND I know the raising of livestock (or too much livestock, anyway) can have a deleterious effect on a region's watertable. But meat's so yummy, dammit.
Inspired and aided by these two books, I've decided to do a rundown of some pros and cons of meat.
First, the pros.
1. Protein - lots of high-quality protein, with essential amino acids, unequalled by veggies.
2. Iron, important for a good sense of vigor, is much more abundant in beef than, say, carrots.
3. Meats contain lots of B vitamins, which help keep your body cells and nervous system functioning the way they oughta. In particular, animal products are virtually the only sources of B12. Long-term B12 deficiency can be a very serious problem. As Scott Gold writes in The Shameless Carnivore (Chapter 3): "Do you know what's bad for you? Veganism. ... Without the benefit of supplements, most vegans would probably be undernourished at best, and at worst have serious health problems. Aside from having a more difficult time getting enough protein and iron, they'd have little real access to vitamin B12."
4. Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system, and your body uses the zinc in animal products more efficiently than the zinc in grains and vegetables.
5. Something for parents to consider: Animal proteins are very important for children's normal growth and development. So, if you're gonna be a vegan for moral and (dubious) health reasons, at least don't force your kid down that path.