Why is it more beneficial to eat lower on the food chain?

It is more beneficial to eat lower on the food chain, for a few reasons.

1. Our food has not traveled from all over in order to get to our plate, meaning less exhaust fumes, less chemicals in our bodies.

2. The food lower on the food chain has been grown locally, and fully organic, without any additives or chemicals. The food you are eating has come straight from the farm.

There are a few other reasons, if you are still interested read the Omnivores Dilemma. Very good book, the whole book answers your question.