The Hard-and-Fast Rules of Kosher Diet You Must Follow

Are you planning to follow a kosher diet to help you lose weight? Is this diet helpful in your quest to finally lose those pounds sticking in your belly? Before you follow it, make sure that you know the rules of this diet.

Following Kosher Diet 

In the last five decades, we have seen a great shift in the food industry. The change, however, is more focused on ultra-processed foods. These are foods with low nutritional value.

As a result, it isn’t easy to lose weight. And if you wish to follow a kosher diet, it can be challenging to transition. Keep in mind that the American diet consists of heavily processed foods. And if you go to a supermarket, you will find mostly unhealthy choices. That’s why finding appropriate options is not only challenging but also expensive.

What is Kosher in Jewish Law (Kashrut)? 

Kashrut means ritual suitability. It refers to the Jewish dietary laws that dictate how you will prepare, store and eat food. They also suggest how to slaughter animals that can be eaten.

It’s important to note that not all animals can be eaten if you follow the Jewish law. Land animals are only considered kosher if they chew their cud and if they have cloven hooves. In that case, cows and sheep can be eaten. Pigs are out of the picture.

Then again, you can’t just eat them. They need to be slaughtered according to certain rules.

If you are wondering whether or not you can eat seafoods, then you must heed to this rule: animals living in water can only be consumed if they have fins and scales. In that case, shrimp and squid are not kosher.

To be eaten, these animals must be killed by a Schochet. This is a person with extensive training and knowledge in kosher slaughtering. In other words, the animals can’t just be slaughtered by anyone.

All blood from the animal must be removed properly. And the animal must be prepared properly before you can cook it. The meat is soaked first. It will help in removing all trace of blood.

You also can’t use any utensils. If you use them to prepare the meat, you can’t use them to prepare other food.

Separation of Meat and Dairy

One of the things that you must keep in mind is the separation of meat and dairy foods. They are strictly prohibited from being served or consumed at the same time.

For instance, if you eat kosher beef, you can’t eat it with cheese. But you can eat fish and dairy products together.

Now, when can you eat cheese after consuming kosher beef? You need to wait three to six hours before you can eat or drink dairy products.

What are the Guidelines for Eating Plant-Based Foods? 

Plant-based foods are considered pareve or neutral. They must not contain meat or dairy. These foods have their set of kosher guidelines. But their guidelines are less restrictive compared to meat and dairy.

In terms of grains and bread, they are considered kosher. However, it still depends on the processing method being used. For instance, certain bread is not kosher. It depends on the equipment being used to process it or the ingredients utilized.

Some breads contain oils or shortening. The bread is not kosher if it uses animal-based shortening.

If the baking pan is greased using animal-based fats, the bread is no longer kosher.

Some types of processing methods are not disclosed. That’s why bread and other grain products are not immediately accepted as kosher, unless it is certified kosher. That is, they comply with all relevant rules.

In the case of fruits and vegetables, they are kosher if they are eaten in their unprocessed form. But because insects are not considered kosher, fruits and vegetables must first be inspected to find the presence of insects or larvae before they are consumed.

Keeping Kosher Diet 

You may think that it is difficult to follow kosher diet with all the restrictions imposed. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. That is if you only pay attention to the labels. You must familiarize yourself with the kosher products at stores. It’s also pertinent that you buy meat from a kosher butcher.

But if you eat outside, though, eating kosher can be slightly challenging. For instance, if you are invited to a party at a non-Jewish home, you might want to tell the hosts about your dietary restrictions so they won’t get offended.

What are the Health Benefits of this Diet? 

If you think about the rules imposed before a certain food can be considered kosher, you will find that kosher food is indeed healthier. It is also safer to eat compared to other products in grocery stores.

Furthermore, there’s lower risk of bacterial contamination when you eat kosher meat and dairy products because of how they are prepared.

The certain rule that prohibits mixing meat and dairy eliminates various unhealthy choices, including pizza and cheeseburgers.  When you eat these foods, your digestive will suffer to break them down properly. And if you indulge in these foods, you’re likely to increase your blood cholesterol levels causing you to gain weight.

But with kosher foods, you can prevent eating high-calorie foods.

If you wish to follow this diet, you may opt to buy kosher meals that are ready to eat. They are much healthier compared to their sugar-laden counterparts. These meals will help you follow this diet even with your busy schedule.

So for your weight loss goal, a kosher diet can be extremely beneficial. It encourages you to eat more nutritiously.