To the chagrin of doctors, the human species eats more and more animal meat and fewer vegetables . This has been determined by a study carried out by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, which has revealed a considerable increase in the consumption of meat at a global level that places us in a higher position in the food chain.
The study analyzed changes in eating habits in 176 countries over 50 years and observed an increase in fat and meat consumption of 3%, a not inconsiderable figure for experts that places us several points above our trophic level . This increase is not seen homogeneously throughout the planet, as some countries have seen their consumption decrease due to impoverishment while others such as India and China, with emerging economies, have boosted the sale of these products.
The trophic level is the place that a species occupies in the food chain . This research places the human being at 2.21 on a scale of 5, which equates us to other omnivores such as pigs and anchovies. At the top of the chain are animals such as killer whales or polar bears, which feed exclusively on mammals and do not support other predators. Despite the increase in meat intake, our species continues to be closer to herbivores than to carnivores, which contradicts the preconceived idea that we are the top predator.
According to the study authors, an excessive consumption of meat worldwide causes the depletion of natural resources and compromises the long-term stability of the biological community.
