Kosher diet

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Kosher diet is a dietary practice followed by some people of the Jewish faith, which is based on the Jewish dietary laws known as Kashrut. These laws are derived from the Torah, the holy book of Judaism.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The term "kosher" is derived from the Hebrew word "kasher", which means "fit" or "proper". In the context of food, it refers to food that is prepared and consumed in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. These laws specify which foods are permitted (kosher) and which are not (non-kosher or treif).

Kosher foods[edit | edit source]

Kosher foods are divided into three categories: meat, dairy, and pareve.

Meat[edit | edit source]

According to the laws of Kashrut, only certain types of animals are considered kosher. These include animals that chew their cud and have split hooves, such as cows, sheep, and goats. The animals must be slaughtered in a specific way, known as shechita, and their blood must be fully drained or broiled out.

Dairy[edit | edit source]

Dairy products must come from kosher animals. In addition, they cannot be mixed with meat or eaten at the same meal as meat, based on the biblical prohibition against "boiling a kid in its mother's milk".

Pareve[edit | edit source]

Pareve foods are neither meat nor dairy and include fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, and fish. Fish must have fins and scales to be considered kosher.

Kosher certification[edit | edit source]

Many packaged foods and beverages carry a kosher certification symbol, which is a mark or seal by a rabbinic organization that the product is kosher. There are many different certification symbols, known as hechshers, and they vary by region and by the standards of the certifying organization.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Kosher diet Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD