A kosher diet refers to Jewish dietary laws (kashruth) set for food preparation and consumption. Food from any cuisine can have kosher status as long as kashruth guidelines are met. While observing kashruth does impart good health from cutting unrefined sugars and unhealthy fats, it is not a weight loss plan. Kashruth is more or less a diet of community and religion for the Jewish people, though gentiles could certainly follow these guidelines if so desired.
Kosher Animals
Land animals with cloven hooves that chew their cud may be eaten. Sheep, cattle, deer and goats are therefore considered kosher. Fish can also be consumed as long as they have scales and fins, but shellfish are completely off limits. As noted by the Jewish Virtual Library, the Torah lists certain birds that for no specific reason are deemed non-kosher. However, chicken, geese, duck and turkey are allowed. All insects, rodents, reptiles and amphibians, along with any of their eggs, milk, fat or organs are non-kosher.
Slaughtering
Kosher herds and flocks are slaughtered using ritual slaughter (shechitah) guidelines under Jewish law, which is considered the most humane way to slaughter animals. Animals lose kosher status and may not be consumed if they died of natural causes or were killed by other animals. No disease or internal organ flaws can be present during shechitah. With the exception of fish, no blood can be consumed. Within 72 hours, all the blood must be properly drained at shechitah and further broiled, salted or soaked to remove all any excess blood before freezing or grinding the meat.
Fats and Nerves
Kosher dietary guidelines also restrict consumption of any kosher animal's sciatic nerve, or any of the adjoined blood vessels surrounding it. The chelev, which is the fat surrounding the vital organs and liver, is also off limits. According to Texas A&M University, taking out the nerve is expensive and time consuming, so many American slaughter houses sell the hind quarters to non-kosher butchers. If observing kosher dietary laws, be sure to purchase kosher certified meats, where the fat and nerves are already removed for you.
Meat and Dairy
Meat (fleishig) is not to be consumed with dairy (milchig), nor should poultry be eaten with dairy. However, this dietary restriction does not apply to fish or eggs. Furthermore, the separation of meat and dairy also pertains to the utensils used to prepare, cook, eat and clean food in as well. Therefore, to avoid losing kosher status of utensils, kosher households need two sets of pots and pans, dishes and flatware to keep meats and dairy separate.
Pareve Foods
Foods without meat or dairy are considered neutral (pareve) and can be eaten with either dairy or meat dishes. According to chabadaustin.com, anything grown from the ground that remains unprocessed is kosher. That means all unprocessed fruits, vegetables and grains are kosher. However, as noted by the Orthrodox Union, care needs to be taken with grape products. If consuming wine, look for the mevushal label, and look for kosher endorsements when it comes to grape jams and jellies.
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