Overabundance and Scarcity

The world is a place of dietary overabundance as well as scarcity. Many in the North die early because they eat too much in general and have fat intakes way beyond what is healthy. Many people in the South die too early or never develop to their full potential because they eat too little and have other nutritional deficiencies. The people with the highest daily per capita caloric intake are the Portuguese (3,658 calories), who just edge out Americans (3,642). Eritreans (1,585) have the lowest calorie consumption. For fat, which is a problem when too much or too little is consumed, the French, whose daily per capita intake is 165 grams, are most in need of watching their diets. The people of Mozambique, who consume just 35 grams of fat daily, are the most deprived. Protein, which is critical for muscle and brain development and maintenance, is also most abundant in France, where people consume 114 grams a day. The people of Burundi suffer the greatest protein deficiency, consuming just 12 grams a day.