Ayahuasca, and the interest from Western society it provokes, is an eloquent argument for its efficiency. It really works, and the results can surprise many mental health professionals. That is the exact reason why it should not be taken lightly.
To be responsible for it means to treat it with respect and to strictly follow a preparation process. This will keep you safe from unwanted (or even dangerous) side effects and will safeguard the Ayahuasca culture from dark stories that can cast a shadow on its reputation.
The preparation for Ayahuasca is the foundation of the deep and profound clarity it brings.
In order to truly be ready to handle all the gifts of this Ancestral Medicine, one should prepare their body and mind.
The first step of the preparation of the body is refining the diet and excluding all the foods that are clogging the farthest corners of the body. That will allow Ayahuasca to reach them and set them in order.
In this article, we will explore all the questions that arise regarding the Ayahuasca diet and find practical solutions.
Disclaimer: Please note that most of the information in this article is based on anecdotal evidence and recommendations of local Peruvian shamans. Be cautious about following any advice and consider consulting your doctor.
Table of contents:
The Importance of the Ayahuasca Diet
The Ayahuasca ceremony is an act of cleaning one’s mind. But strangely enough, the connection between the mind and the body is tighter than we are told.
During the Ayahuasca ceremony, you can literally feel how your mind is processing trauma, suppressed memories, and unlived emotions. It can happen in many ways. At the end of this process, when it's time, your body is getting rid of it by purging it out ( which is not always very pleasant).
So in order to clean your mind you need to stress your body.
To handle the entire Ayahuasca experience (and especially the purging part) more easily, you need to reduce the burden carried by your body.
A clean diet before the start of your Ayahuasca retreat will provide you with exactly that. Your purging will be less intense, and oftentimes you can avoid it altogether.
Additionally, a clean body will help you gain access to additional mental acuity, resulting in more efficient mental processing of the entire Ayahuasca experience.
Imagine running while carrying two dumbbells. It is not optimal for good results in speed and endurance. Without them, you would run faster and longer.
This speed and resistance will pay off big time in Ayahuasca. So the best way to remove the unnecessary weight from your body is to have a strict diet that is meant to gradually cleanse all the systems and sharpen your mind.
You can also compare it with the launch of a space rocket. At first, it starts with large fuel tanks attached to it, and as it rises higher, it gradually detaches the empty tanks one by one to get rid of the unnecessary weight and be able to achieve the desired speed and altitude.
Your body is the rocket, and the empty fuel tanks that need to be detached are the food that can endanger your health or prevent you from getting the best results from Ayahuasca.
One more reason why the Ayahuasca diet is necessary is directly linked to the way Ayahuasca influences your body once ingested.
The two ingredients of the Ayahuasca brew can work only in combination.
The Ayahuasca vine (B. caapi) contains a substance called Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). This substance, simply put, shuts down a protection system of our body so that the second ingredient of the brew (Psychotria viridis shrub) can have its effects.
While you are without this protection, certain foods can harm you. Especially foods rich in tyramine are known to cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure and other side effects.
So one of the purposes of the Ayahuasca diet is to keep your body safe during your retreat.
The third reason why an Ayahuasca diet is needed is that the food we are consuming directly influences how our mind works. Even without mentioning obvious examples, like the impact of alcohol use on your thought process, there are foods that tune our thinking in certain ways. But since Ayahuasca is about cleaning your mind and setting it in order, any other foods that have an “agenda” in this direction will be unwanted.
Some foods are obviously overstimulating your nervous system. Simple sugars, for example, are putting your body on a rollercoaster of energy, emotions, and actions. After eating something very sweet, we get a ton of energy very fast and we act it out, but after this high is over, we experience a respective low that makes us miserable. And these fluctuations last as long as we abuse the abundance of sugar in our life.
Being on this rollercoaster is not productive when you need a steady and permanent self-inspection of your mind that Ayahuasca provides.
So any stimulants are counter-productive when it comes to Ayahuasca and therefore should be limited or avoided completely.
What the science is saying about the Ayahuasca diet?
Unfortunately, the main thing science is saying about the Ayahuasca diet is that it needs more studies to make solid claims about this topic. However the existing evidence is mainly focused on the dangerous interactions with other drugs and the harm caused by tyramine-rich products.
So, if you avoid prescription/recreational drugs and foods with tyramine, your body will be in a pretty safe spot.
But besides keeping you safe, the Ayahuasca diet has the goal of enhancing the beneficial effects of Ayahuasca while reducing the unpleasant ones. The diet is a powerful leverage that can multiply the depth of the experience during the Ayahuasca.
That’s why sticking to the current scientific recommendations on this topic is not enough.
What do the Shamans say?
Different shamans from different tribes are oftentimes not on the same page when it comes to the question of the Ayahuasca diet.
According to their accounts, all of them had dietary restrictions during their shamanic training. However, the specific types of food permitted and the amount allowed differed significantly.
While some shaman apprentices consumed only bananas and white fish once a day, others were prohibited from consuming any animal products. These dietary differences are influenced by the traditions of their tribe and the geographical region in which they reside.
Also, keep in mind that a local shaman living in the Amazon Rainforest is not exposed to nearly as many chemicals, GMO products, and other food poisons as a Western person. So the amount and the strictness of the diet will also depend on the lifestyle you have had your whole life.
The diet followed by shamans is primarily for individuals participating in specific training programs designed to instruct shamans, rather than for those seeking assistance from Ayahuasca.
When it comes to what the shamans are recommending to Westerners, they say to keep it simple and clean. Using a plant-based diet with no frills will be the best for them.
What the anecdotal evidence is saying?
A large amount of personal ceremonies across different people shows that there is a big difference between following the Ayahuasca diet and not following it.
The effort of restricting yourself in foods and pleasures has a direct impact on how prepared you are for what Ayahuasca will bring. It is not that important to follow the Ayahuasca diet perfectly, but the key here is to make efforts in this direction.
Every food that you manage to exclude from your menu adds up to your commitment and strength.
The Ayahuasca diet is about restrictions and discipline. It is like an exercise that pumps up your confidence muscle, which you will surely need during the Ayahuasca ceremony.
Many people are concerned about the “purging” during Ayahuasca. Although this is a very powerful method of releasing mental garbage from your body, the fact that it is not that pleasant makes people think twice about doing Ayahuasca.
The good news is that a decently respected Ayahuasca diet will minimize the purging and make the whole experience less stressful for your body. And vice versa, without the Ayahuasca diet, your body will need to stress itself over the top to release the clogged mental blockages.
Foods to be restricted and how to do that
The Foods that need to be excluded or restricted from the Ayahuasca diet have degrees of harm they can cause. So there is a consecutive order of foods that should go away from your plate. Generally speaking, the restrictions and their timing look in the following way:
Four weeks before the ceremony:
Psychoactive medications
All recreational/street drugs
Three weeks before the ceremony:
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, DRIs, etc.)
Two weeks before the ceremony:
Pork
Alcohol
Marijuana
Sexual activities
Spicy foods (hot and spicy)
Ice, ice cream, or ice-cold drinks
One week before the ceremony:
Sugar
Tyramine-rich foods
Red meat
Animal fats (lard, etc.)
Carbonated drinks (including diet sodas, energy drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, etc.)
Dairy products
Fermented foods (kimchi, tofu, tempeh, etc)
Caffeine and other stimulants (wean off slowly to avoid headaches)
Junk foods
Salt or spices
Sweets or chocolate/cacao
Oils (olive or coconut oil very sparingly)
Overripe, bruised, and dried fruit
Protein extracts, powdered protein supplements, and shakes
Yeast or yeast extracts (simple unleavened, unsalted bread are okay)
This list is compiled from the experiences of several retreat centers. Some positions may be contested, but remember - with the Ayahuasca diet, it's better to overdo it than underdo it. So, the stricter you follow the diet, the better.
A separate work must be said about Tyramine, as it is the main factor that brings health risks when taken alongside Ayahuasca.
Tyramine is a monoamine that is found naturally in some foods that contain protein. As these foods age, the levels of tyramine increase. Especially fermented products are rich in tyramine. The combination of foods with a high concentration of tyramine with Ayahuasca should be avoided because it can cause a hypertensive crisis with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, increased heart rate, and dilated pupils.
Foods high in tyramine include the following:
Dried or overripe fruits (raisins or prunes, bananas or avocados)
Strong or aged cheeses (aged Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan; blue cheeses such as Stilton and Gorgonzola; and Camembert)
Aged meats (treated with salt and nitrate or nitrite, dry sausages, pepperoni, and salami)
Smoked or processed meats (hot dogs, mortadella, bacon, corned beef, or smoked fish)
Canned or fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, caviar, tofu, or pickles)
Sauces (soy sauce, shrimp sauce, fish sauce, miso, and teriyaki sauce)
Soy and soy products, broad beans, and their pods
Meat tenderizers/meat prepared with tenderizers
Yeast-extracted spreads (Marmite, brewer’s yeast, or sourdough bread)
Alcoholic beverages (beer, red wine, sherry, and spirits)
Improperly stored foods/spoiled foods
Caffeinated beverages
Allowed foods
Most of the readers, after checking the list above, will ask the fair question, “Is that all I eat? What’s left?” And the answer is: nobody said it would be easy :)
A vegetarian or vegan diet is what we aim for. We want to exclude all that can threaten our health on Ayahuasca, and what is left after eliminating the potentially dangerous stuff are fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts, and everything in between.
As a remark, please note that an excessive intake of vegetable oils and nuts is also not advisable, although it fits the Ayahuasca diet.
In general terms, stick to using a combination of the following ingredients:
Proteins: lentils, beans
Grains: brown rice, lentils, quinoa, wheat berries, amaranth, gluten-free pasta, whole wheat, Spelt, Kamut
Veggies: ALL vegetables EXCEPT onions, garlic, and leeks.
Fruits: berries, grapes, bananas, peaches, apricots, apples, pears
Raw nuts/seeds: all nuts except peanuts, raw hemp seeds, chia seeds, nut butter (unsalted, except peanut)
Beverages: Herbal teas, coconut water, nut milk, water
For seasoning your foods: Fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, sage, dill, etc.)
Mild spices (cumin, coriander, dill, sage, turmeric) *To enhance the digestion of beans and certain seeds and grains, consider soaking and germinating them. It will be a game changer.
If limiting your diet still seems to be too big of a challenge for you, remember that it is temporary. Treat it like a preparation for an important event in your life. After the retreat is over, if you still want to, you can come back to the same lifestyle you came from.
Purgatives before the Ayahuasca
Some schools of the Ayahuasca tradition (for example, in Ecuador) and certain individual shamans in the Peruvian Amazon use purgatives before starting the Ayahuasca retreat. This is done as a leverage that promises less purging in the ceremony and more depth of the experience.
A number of local plants in the Amazon have purgative properties. A tea made of these plants is prepared and served either once before the start of the overall retreat or before each ceremony to provoke vomiting.
Doing Ayahuasca on an empty stomach enhances the effect of the brew and deepens the experience.
This is surely a double-edged question because on one hand, using purgatives cleanses your digestive system and enhances the effects of Ayahuasca, but on the other hand, you can achieve a much deeper result by following a clean diet and maybe using some forms of fasting.
So although this is a viable method, it is pretty violent and intense. The presence of something more simple yet more powerful raises the question of whether or not purgatives make sense to use as a part of the Ayahuasca diet.
Recreational drugs
Ayahuasca, along with most psychedelic substances, is considered to be very safe if administered correctly. However, when combined with other psychoactive substances, Ayahuasca can trigger unexpected complications and side effects that are not worth exploring.
So if you have any ideas about experimenting with mixing Ayahuasca with any other known (or unknown) recreational drug - don't do it.
Ayahuasca in itself is capable of changing your life, and no innovation can improve that because it is already delivering all you could dream of.
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs, and especially the ones used to treat mental health issues are known to give the worst complications in combination with Ayahuasca or other psychedelics.
The interaction of Ayahuasca with most modern medications is an unexplored territory. Because of that, it is your duty to take all precautions and keep yourself safe.
Although Ayahuasca is a very safe experience in itself, in combination with other compounds it can cause damage, which is not something you benefit from.
Before enrolling in an Ayahuasca retreat, make sure that you know how long a prescription medication you are on, stays in your system. That will allow you to know when to stop the intake so that the active chemicals can leave your body.
If there are natural/herbal alternatives to the drugs you are prescribed, consider taking those as part of your preparation for Ayahuasca.
Here is the list of pharmaceutical drugs that should not be combined with Ayahuasca (some are mild risks, others serious):
*If you are taking medications from the list above, please reach out to your doctor and discuss the possibility of temporarily stopping the intake.
Also, check our more detailed information about the contradictions between Ayahuasca ( and the MAOIs contained in the brew) and other pharmaceutical medications:
In order to stop taking certain medications, you should gradually reduce the dosage over long periods of time. Be mindful about it and start as soon as possible.
Oftentimes, the medication is prescribed to suppress the symptoms of an illness to make your daily life more comfortable. If you stop the intake, you could start feeling again all the symptoms which is not cool :(
Your safety on the Ayahuasca retreat is your number one priority, so consider enduring the unpleasant sensations for the greater good. It could be that Ayahuasca would help you address the root cause of your illness, and as a result, you will be freed from the issues and no more medications will be needed.
Vitamins and supplements
The majority of vitamins and supplements are safe to take during the Ayahuasca ceremony. They are usually made of minerals or plants and resemble regular food with a heightened concentration of nutrients. Due to that, generally, it is safe to consume them in recommended amounts.
But as a rule of thumb, better avoid taking vitamins and any kind of supplements during your retreat if they are not necessary.
Spending a week or two without your D3 capsules, won’t give you too much trouble.
There are some anecdotal reports about certain herbal supplements (St. John's Wort, Kava, Yohimbe, etc.) having negative effects when combined with Ayahuasca.
Fasting
When it comes to discussing the Ayahuasca diet, it is worth mentioning that there are situations when no food is the best diet.
Fasting is an extremely powerful method to enhance the effects of Ayahuasca and the depth of the experience.
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Traditionally, the local shamans recommend at least a 12-hour fast before the ceremony. This means that you eat breakfast, skip lunch, and then drink Ayahuasca at night.
The results are hard to overestimate - the handling of the ceremony is much easier. It is common that there is less purging on an empty stomach, and the intensity of the trip is way higher.
On top of that, when you fast, there is a sensation of your will being much stronger and sharper, and due to that, you have more courage to explore delicate parts of the mind.
People who are used to fasting can do a 24-hour fast before the ceremony, and they report that the depth of the trip and everything that follows is increased manifold.
Why is sex among the restricted foods?
Oddly enough, sex is oftentimes mentioned alongside the foods that need to be restricted for the Ayahuasca diet.
That is because sexual activities (of any kind) influence our minds and, therefore, our ability to handle the Ayahuasca experience.
In many religious traditions, abstinence is a part of the spiritual practice because it is claimed that sexual energy is the fuel needed to progress toward a higher state of consciousness. If wasted, the progress becomes less.
Abstaining for several weeks before the start of the retreat will make your mind sharp, and even during the ceremony, you will feel much stronger to withstand the challenging parts of the trip.
Oftentimes for men, abstinence is a big challenge, especially if fixing sexual dysfunctions (e.g., porn addiction) is the reason behind the desire to do Ayahuasca. If that is the case, then it is advised to focus on other preparation methods (link to our article) for Ayahuasca.
What if I can't give up certain foods/drugs?
Sometimes people come to Ayahuasca because they want to get rid of certain addictions. If you want to stop smoking, but as a preparation method for Ayahuasca, you should already stop smoking, then you end up in a Catch-22 situation.
The solution here is to either gradually reduce the dose of the drug you are addicted to (it works with coffee, alcohol, sugar, general overeating, etc.), find replacements (replacing red meat with poultry, etc.), or pull yourself together and endure the craving at least several days before your first ceremony.
If that doesn’t work, then don’t beat yourself up over it. The Ayahuasca diet is made up of many small bits and pieces. If you cannot keep a part of this puzzle, then focus on the other parts and you will be able to compensate.
Meditate more, eat cleaner foods, start the diet earlier, implement fasting, or try to make other adjustments that will enhance the overall progress in your preparation.
What if I fail to strictly follow the diet?
If you can't resist the temptation to eat candy, a burger, or a cup of beer while on the Ayahuasca diet, it is not the end of the world.
Just remember the general principle - the closer you are to the start of your Ayahuasca retreat, the more clean your diet should be. A beer 2 months before has a totally different impact on your experience than beers the day before your first Ayahuasca ceremony.
And secondly, there is a hierarchy of harmful foods and substances. Even if you are about to eat something conflicting with the Ayahuasca diet, select an alternative that is more organic, clean, fresh, etc.
How Ayahuasca affects your food preferences
It was observed that after the Ayahuasca retreats, people tend to change their food preferences and become more cautious about their diet.
It can manifest in many ways - selecting more organic food, eating less, or shifting to a vegetarian or plant-based diet.
This change in attitude will bring a lot of health and stability to your mind. It is no wonder that we are what we eat, and Ayahuasca is making us aware of the building blocks that constitute us. This knowledge will help us make better decisions and live our lives with more joy.
Oftentimes, following the Ayahuasca diet is not that easy or pleasant, however, the benefits of it can easily pay off.
If you want to get the most out of a short Ayahuasca retreat, do your best by following the Ayahuasca diet. It will prepare your mind and body, and it will be a small price to pay to experience the incredible change and clarity that Ayahuasca has to offer.
We hope this guide has given you clarity and insight into the Ayahuasca diet and its importance in preparing for your journey. Every principle shared here is carefully followed at our Lighthouse! Ayahuasca Retreat to ensure that each guest receives the most transformative and supportive experience possible. 🌿
If this resonates with you, we warmly invite you to consider joining us at the Lighthouse! Take a step toward a better version of yourself, and we’ll be right here to guide and support you along the way. 🙏✨
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