Diets in the United States are traditionally poor in nutrients. Statistics show that at least 80% of people don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. However, this trend is changing. The pandemic and stay-at-home orders have encouraged more people to cook and prepare healthy meals at home instead of relying on packaged foods laden with cholesterol, sugar, salt, and preservatives. If you’re one of the 63% of Americans trying to make changes in their diet in 2022, you could consider going “Kosher.” Eating kosher meals means switching to “Kashrut” or diet plans recommended by the Jewish Torah.
Following Ancient Jewish Dietary Laws is Good for Your Body
Following ancient Jewish dietary rules ensures that you eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is why adopting a Kosher lifestyle is a great way to comply with your dietitian’s heart-healthy nutrition plan. The main Kosher rule is not to combine the primary food groups in a single meal. These include:
- Milchig or Dairy products including milk, cheese, cream, butter, buttermilk, or any other foods where dairy is an ingredient.
- Fleishig or Meat sourced from animals with cloven hooves such as sheep, goats, deer, and cattle. People who follow the Kashrut laws can also eat fowl like chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks, and geese.
Research now shows that dishes with meat and dairy stay in the digestive system for a longer time. Your body cannot break down the food efficiently, which results in higher cholesterol levels and problems with the digestive system. Cooking your meats in plant-based oils like canola, olive, or safflower instead of cream and butter adds to the nutrition value with heart-healthy omega fatty acids.
Pareve Foods are Neutral
Kosher laws categorize fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, and seafood (fish having scales and fins) as pareve or neutral foods that can be safely combined with meat and dairy products. You can eat grains, fruits, and vegetables, but they should be carefully inspected for insects, larvae, additives, and unwanted chemicals. This rule eliminates processed foods and requires you to purchase and cook the produce from scratch.
Although this can seem like an inconvenience, you’ll eliminate excessive preservatives, salt, and sugar. Alternatively, you can purchase food that carries the Kosher certification and get kosher gift baskets with breads that are baked without dairy-based shortening. That makes them safe for consumption with any meal. If your hamper does have lox or cream cheese, it is placed separately in a tightly sealed container.
Meats are Processed with Strict Rules
When processing meat for consumption, Jewish laws require that all traces of blood should be drained and removed by washing thoroughly, salting, or broiling. This rule has scientific importance because blood breaks down faster than tissues, and its presence could result in bacterial buildup. Not only can you ensure that the meat is free of contaminants, but broiling it is a healthier cooking style than frying. Trimming off all the fat content and skin also lowers cholesterol levels.
Kosher-Certified Food is Clean and Without Additives
Kosher laws require that the food be prepared in a sterile setting with carefully segregated sections for meat, dairy, fish, and fresh produce. Not only should you use different utensils, pots, pans, knives, and chopping boards, but you’ll also clean surfaces carefully after cooking each food category. Following this rule helps you avoid the risk of cross-contamination, so you eat healthier meals.
The exciting thing is that you can find “Kosher-certified” food in your local grocery stores. Buying these brands assures you that the food will be free of any add-ons that can make you sick or cause long-term health issues.
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