Ayahuasca is a profound energy that enters your body, mind, and spirit. To ensure a harmonious journey with Ayahuasca, cleaning and preparing the road ahead is crucial. By adhering to dietary recommendations, you take a significant step towards connecting effectively with the plant, even during your first experience with the medicine.
The cleaner your body comes to the ceremony, the better; think of yourself as a vessel. If you come full of dirt, Ayahuasca will have to clean that first for you, and maybe your journey won’t be as deep as you’d expect.
Key takeaways
- Adhering to this plant-based, clean diet extends beyond ceremonial days, emphasizing mindful and intentional eating.
- You need to start your diet at least 3 days before the ceremony, even better if you can start a week before.
- The Ayahuasca journey involves a comprehensive approach that extends beyond physical nourishment. Following dietary guidelines signifies a commitment to the spiritual journey, fostering a harmonious mind-body connection.
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The importance of Ayahuasca Diet
The Ayahuasca diet is more than a set of rules; it’s a holistic approach to preparing the mind and body for the profound spiritual experience that awaits. Participants are encouraged to follow a clean, plant-based diet, free from certain foods and substances that may interfere with the Ayahuasca journey. This dietary discipline extends beyond the ceremonial days, emphasizing a commitment to mindful and intentional eating. Cannabis belongs on the list to set aside too, since weed and Ayahuasca pull in opposite directions.
Ayahuasca will enter your body and identify what no longer serves you, aiding in the purging process. The cleaner you come to a ceremony, the better, and this may reduce the potential trauma of purging for your body.
A note on other substances
Refrain from consuming recreational drugs such as acid, cocaine, or marijuana (if you’re a habitual marijuana user, cease consumption at least a week before the ceremony). Additionally, avoid alcohol in the week leading up to your encounter with Ayahuasca.
If you’re taking medications
Inform your facilitators and Shaman if you have been taking antidepressants, antibiotics, or any other prescribed drugs. Some of these factors may determine your readiness for a ceremony or if additional special preparations are needed.
The Ayahuasca Diet
Preparations for a ceremony should start at least 3 days before the ceremony, but if you’re able to follow the dietary recommendations for a week, your experience could be more profound.
The Ayahuasca diet typically includes a variety of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nuts. These foods are chosen for their light and easily digestible nature, allowing for a smoother integration of the Ayahuasca brew. The diet advises abstaining from processed foods, dairy, red meat, spicy foods, fermented foods, and alcohol.
An ayahuasca diet will look like this:
- No red meat. You can eat chicken and fish, but if you can go fully vegetarian it’ll be a plus.
- No dark beverages.
- No caffeine, you can replace it with cacao in the morning if you need the kick to start your day or with herbal infusions.
- No spices.
- No dairy, you can replace it with plant-based milk.
- Avoid heavy grains like black beans.
- Avoid sugar and salt, or reduce your daily intake.
- Avoid processed food.
- Avoid processed sugars.
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits that will do good to your stomach.
The day of
The day of your ceremony eat light, avoid citrus, and any type of meat and dairy. If the ceremony is taking place at night is recommended to have a good breakfast, light lunch, and some snacks around 4 pm. Ideally, your stomach will be empty by the time you take the medicine. Eat nourishing foods as you’ll need strength to endure through the night.
Must Read Blog: Why you vomit on Ayahuasca
The day after
Try to maintain your diet for at least 3 days after your ceremony, especially if it’s the first experience with Ayahuasca that you’re having. Be especially loving and careful of your body as well as your energy.
Ayahuasca Diet Food List: What to Eat and What to Avoid
On the ayahuasca diet you eat light, plant-based food, and you leave out salt, sugar, alcohol, aged cheese, fermented food, and cured meat. You can shop and cook from it without second-guessing every label.
| Foods to eat | Foods to avoid |
|---|---|
| Fresh fruit, and skip citrus in the last day or two | Salt and sugar |
| Steamed or raw vegetables | Red meat and pork |
| Lentils, chickpeas, and light beans | Aged cheese and other dairy |
| Rice, oats, and quinoa | Fermented food: sauerkraut, kimchi, soy sauce, miso |
| Nuts and seeds | Cured or smoked meat: salami, bacon, ham |
| Chicken and fish earlier in the prep, less as the day gets close | Alcohol, caffeine, and dark drinks |
| Water, plant milk, and mild herbal tea | Spicy food, and close to ceremony, citrus |
The two sides are not equal in weight. The eat side is mostly a preference. The avoid side, near the bottom, is closer to a safety rule, and it can also be that your facilitator adds or drops an item for your own situation.
Why These Foods Are off the List
The avoid list is mostly a safety list, because ayahuasca contains harmala alkaloids that act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs.
When an MAOI meets food that is high in tyramine, your blood pressure can climb, and aged cheese, cured meat, and fermented food are exactly where tyramine sits. That is why the diet keeps coming back to the same names. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s StatPearls entry on monoamine oxidase inhibitor toxicity lists those same tyramine-rich foods as the ones to watch. So again, this part is less about old tradition and more about your body staying calm on ceremony night.
Two types of people trip here. One reads the list, panics, and tries to eat almost nothing. The other shrugs and figures a little salami won’t hurt. Both are off. You want a level of care that is steady, not fearful, so you take the tyramine names seriously and you still eat enough to have strength for the night.
Hydration and Herbal Teas
Staying hydrated is crucial during an Ayahuasca diet. Participants are encouraged to drink plenty of water and may also include herbal teas that are mild and non-stimulating. This gentle hydration supports the body’s cleansing process and helps maintain a clear and receptive state for the ceremony.
By drinking plenty of water the week before, you assist your body and energy in coming cleaner. However, do not drink water one hour before the ceremony starts, and during the ceremony, try not to drink water, as this could upset your stomach, provoking unnecessary purging.
You can drink herbal infusions every day, such as lemongrass, citron, and mint, to help your body cleanse itself and prepare your stomach.
A note on purgatives
Consult with your facilitators and Shaman if a purgative is appropriate for you at any stage of your preparation. Keep in mind that a purgative might take longer to have its effect, so be mindful of the time, your body, and medical recommendations.
Most Read Blog: Ayahuasca And Purgatives, The Colombian Approach To The Ayahuasca Diet
Ayahuasca Diet Recipes: What a Day of Eating Looks Like
A day on the ayahuasca diet looks like simple plant-based meals: oats and fruit in the morning, a grain and vegetable bowl at midday, and a light soup at night. In many traditions this whole preparation is just called la dieta, the diet, and the recipes are plain on purpose.
You are cooking to feel light, not to impress anyone. So the meals stay small, the seasoning stays gentle, and you build the days around the same handful of ingredients. A few plain days look like this.
- Breakfast. Oats cooked in water or plant milk with banana, and a spoon of cacao instead of coffee if you want the morning kick.
- Lunch. Rice or quinoa with steamed vegetables and lentils, a little olive oil, and very little or no salt.
- Dinner. A light vegetable soup, or sweet potato with greens. Keep it small if your ceremony is the next day.
- Snacks. A piece of fruit, though not citrus once you are close to ceremony, and a small handful of nuts.
The day of ceremony is its own thing. You eat light and early, you let your stomach empty out before the medicine, and you treat food as fuel for a long night. It is less about the recipe and more about keeping the load light. If you want the wider picture beyond the plate, our ayahuasca ceremony preparation guide walks through the rest of the prep.
La Dieta Means Two Different Diets
La dieta is two different practices: a short food restriction you follow in the days before a ceremony, and a months-long apprenticeship diet a shaman does while learning a plant. Almost nobody reading this will do the apprenticeship diet.
The short version is preparation. The long version is training. People who read about the apprenticeship diet assume it applies to them, so they arrive expecting something monastic. Mostly we ask them to drop salt, sugar, pork, alcohol and sex for a few days.
The Dieta Before a Ceremony
Your dieta runs for a few days on either side of the ceremony, and it exists so the medicine meets a settled body. The food list further up is the whole of it. Nothing about it requires you to leave your life, and most guests keep working through it.
The Dieta a Taita Does
A shaman learning a plant goes to live with it. Plain food, no salt, no sugar, no chilli, little company, sometimes for months. The point is not purity. With nothing else coming in, the plant becomes the loudest thing in the room. What it teaches him there, he carries for the rest of his life.
The songs sung over you in ceremony come out of those diets. That is why an icaro is said to belong to the plant rather than to the singer.
That lineage is local and it is traceable. Our lead shaman Sergio trained in the Kamsá Biyá tradition in Sibundoy, under Maria Concepción Chindoy and her son Taita Miguel. At Harmonica we honour both the Siona and Kamsá lineages, and you can read how that training works in our guide to what a taita is.
You do not need to do the apprenticeship diet to drink, and no retreat should ask you to. It is worth knowing it exists, because that is where the icaros sung over you came from.
Find out if Ayahuasca is right for you
- Will you be safe physically and emotionally?
- How will you be supported in the ceremony?
- How do the facilitators handle difficult situations?
- How will you be able to process the experience?
- You want change, but will your life be unrecognizable after Ayahuasca?
Body, Mind and Spirit Connection
The Ayahuasca diet extends beyond physical nourishment; it is a practice of mindfulness and respect for the sacred ceremony. Adhering to these dietary guidelines demonstrates a commitment to the spiritual journey and cultivates a harmonious mind-body connection. The preparation of the body through conscious eating contributes to a receptive and focused state, allowing for a more profound Ayahuasca experience.
In the days leading up to your encounter with the plant, be mindful of the content you’re consuming and the conversations you’re having. Remember to empty your vessel.
Meditation is a powerful tool
Some Shamans have recognized the significant role of meditation before ceremonies, noting that individuals who meditate often have better experiences. Meditation fosters greater self-awareness, even if you’re not an expert; dedicating just 5 minutes every day to sit in silence can be impactful.
Preparing your spirit for Ayahuasca Diet
As with the physical conditions for the Ayahuasca ceremony, be aware of preparing your spirit. Take time during the preparation to journal about your intentions and the areas of your life you would like to see improved. Set a prayer to the plant so that even before the ritual, you are already connected with the healing energy of Ayahuasca. When you drink the plant at the ceremony, introduce yourself to the plant, present your intentions, and ask for guidance.
Preparing your body for ceremony
Some light exercise will benefit your ceremony. If you’re used to spending most of your time sitting at a desk, try light stretches, yoga, or even a 10-minute walk every day leading up to the ceremony. This can help your body rid itself of old toxins, leaving your physical body ready for a wonderful experience.
You can also prepare a basil bath on the day of the ceremony to fully cleanse your energy. Make an infusion of boiling water with basil and pour it over your body after you shower. These baths can contribute to a smoother journey but it’s not mandatory.
A note on sexual energy
Avoid any type of sexual encounter at least 3 days before the ceremony, as you will be exposed to other people’s energy. Some Taitas and Shamans also recommend avoiding masturbation.
Conclusion
Our modern lifestyles can make it challenging to adhere to a diet with so many “restrictions” impacting various aspects of our lives. I recommend viewing the diet as an offering for your healing journey. Approach each restriction with love, understanding that the effort will pay off. You’re undertaking this because you love yourself enough to care for your body, mind, and energy.
In conclusion, the Ayahuasca diet stands as a pivotal element in preparing for the sacred ceremony, providing a pathway to spiritual receptivity and connection. By honoring these guidelines and adopting a plant-based, mindful approach to eating, participants not only enhance the effectiveness of Ayahuasca but also embark on a journey of self-discipline and respect for the ancient traditions surrounding this sacred plant medicine.
FAQs
Can you eat bread on the ayahuasca diet?
Most ayahuasca diets ask you to avoid bread in the days before ceremony, particularly aged, fermented, or yeast-heavy foods that can interact with the brew. Plain, simple grains are sometimes allowed depending on the tradition. Follow the specific guidance your retreat provides.
Can you eat eggs on the ayahuasca diet?
Eggs are usually limited or avoided on the ayahuasca diet in the days before ceremony, since the diet favors light, plant-based foods that are easy to digest. Some traditions permit them earlier in the preparation period. Check the exact rules with your retreat center.
What happens if you don't diet before ayahuasca?
Skipping the ayahuasca diet can increase nausea and discomfort, and eating foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheese or cured meats, alongside the brew's MAO inhibitors can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels. The restriction is a safety measure as well as a traditional practice. Always follow the dietary guidance from a qualified retreat.
Why is the Ayahuasca diet important?
The Ayahuasca diet serves as a vital preparatory step for individuals embarking on a journey with the sacred plant medicine. By adhering to dietary recommendations, participants cleanse their body and mind, creating a harmonious environment for the profound spiritual experience facilitated by Ayahuasca. This diet is more than a set of rules; it symbolizes a commitment to mindfulness, intentional eating, and respect for the sacred ceremony.
What does the Ayahuasca diet entail?
The Ayahuasca diet typically involves abstaining from certain foods and substances that may interfere with the Ayahuasca journey. Participants are encouraged to follow a clean, plant-based diet, avoiding processed foods, dairy, red meat, spicy foods, fermented foods, and alcohol. Additionally, refraining from recreational drugs and certain medications is advised. The diet emphasizes light, easily digestible foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nuts to facilitate a smoother integration of the Ayahuasca brew.
How should I prepare my body, mind, and spirit for an Ayahuasca ceremony?
Preparing for an Ayahuasca ceremony involves holistic readiness encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. Beyond dietary adjustments, individuals are encouraged to engage in practices such as meditation, journaling intentions, and setting prayers to connect with the healing energy of Ayahuasca. Light exercise, such as yoga or walking, aids in physical preparation, while practices like basil baths and abstaining from sexual encounters contribute to energetic cleansing. Overall, the preparation process aims to foster a receptive and focused state for a profound Ayahuasca experience.
Why can't you eat citrus before ayahuasca?
Many traditions ask you to skip citrus in the last day or two before ceremony. Citrus is acidic and can unsettle an empty stomach before you drink, and some facilitators leave it out for how sharp it sits with the medicine. It is a light restriction, so follow the specific guidance your retreat gives you.
How long should you follow the ayahuasca diet after the ceremony?
Keep the diet for at least three days after ceremony, and longer if it was your first time. Your body and your energy stay open for a while, so you go easy on salt, sugar, alcohol, and heavy food, and you come back to normal eating slowly. It is less about strict rules now and more about being gentle with yourself while the comprehensions settle, which is also where good ayahuasca integration starts.
