Ayahuasca Diet: Absolute Guide To Purify Your Body And Mind For Ceremony (2025)

Q: What about specific foods: cheese, chocolate, alcohol?

Aged cheeses like blue cheese, aged cheddar, or parmesan must be avoided completely during the final week before ceremony due to high tyramine content. Fresh cheeses like mozzarella contain lower levels but are still best avoided during the final few days. Chocolate and cacao contain compounds that can interact with MAOIs. Small amounts of high-quality dark chocolate might be acceptable early in your preparation, but eliminate all chocolate products during the final 3–4 days before ceremony. Alcohol must be completely eliminated at least one week before ceremony, though two weeks is safer. Alcohol affects your liver's ability to process the medicine and can interfere with the emotional openness that ceremony requires.

Q: Can I eat avocado, tomatoes, and citrus fruits?

Fresh avocado is generally safe in moderation during most of your preparation period. Avoid overripe avocados, which may contain higher levels of tyramine. Stop eating avocado 2–3 days before ceremony to be extra cautious. Fresh tomatoes are typically fine, but avoid aged tomato products like aged balsamic vinegar or fermented tomato sauces. Simple, fresh tomato preparations are usually acceptable early in your preparation. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are generally safe, though some people find acidic foods can increase stomach sensitivity. If you're prone to digestive issues, you might want to limit citrus during the final few days before ceremony.

The ceremony begins the moment you commit to the journey, not when you drink the medicine. This truth, passed down through generations of Colombian Taitas, reminds us that preparation is sacred work—a bridge between your everyday life and the profound healing that awaits.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty about preparing for your first ayahuasca ceremony, or perhaps seeking clearer guidance after conflicting information online. You’re not alone in this confusion. The internet overflows with rigid rules, mystical proclamations, and intimidating restriction lists that can leave you feeling overwhelmed before you even begin.

Here’s what we’ve learned from years of guiding people through authentic yagé ceremonies in the Colombian Andes: preparation should feel like self-care, not punishment. The ayahuasca diet—or more accurately, the dieta—is not about perfection or fear-based restriction. It’s about creating the safest, most receptive conditions for healing while honoring the indigenous wisdom that has guided this medicine for thousands of years.

This guide will give you practical, grounded advice rooted in traditional Colombian yagé practices and modern safety understanding. No mystical language, no overwhelming lists—just clear guidance from people who have walked this path and want to help you prepare with confidence and respect.

Understanding the Ayahuasca Dieta: More Than Just Food

Before we dive into what to eat and avoid, let’s clarify something important: the word “diet” doesn’t capture the full meaning of what we’re discussing. In Spanish, “dieta” encompasses a broader concept of disciplined preparation that includes not just food, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual readiness.

Traditional Colombian Yagé Preparation

In the mountains of Colombia, where yagé has been used ceremonially for over a thousand years, preparation begins weeks before ceremony. Traditional Taitas understand that the medicine works most effectively when the body is clean, the mind is clear, and the spirit is open to receiving guidance.

Colombian yagé traditions differ from the better-known Peruvian ayahuasca practices in several important ways. While Peruvian traditions often emphasize lengthy plant dietas lasting months, Colombian Taitas typically focus on shorter, more intensive preparation periods that honor the realities of modern life while maintaining the essential safety and spiritual elements.

The foods traditionally avoided in Colombian yagé preparation include fermented chicha, aged meats, and certain strong-flavored plants that might interfere with the medicine’s action. However, the emphasis has always been on what nourishes and supports the body rather than creating fear around food.

Modern Safety Considerations

Today’s understanding of ayahuasca safety adds an important layer to traditional wisdom: the interaction between the medicine’s MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) compounds and certain foods and medications. This isn’t mystical—it’s biochemistry, and it’s crucial for your safety.

The vine Banisteriopsis caapi contains natural MAOIs that allow the DMT in the accompanying plants to become orally active. These same MAOIs can interact dangerously with foods high in tyramine—a compound found in aged, fermented, or spoiled foods. When MAOIs and tyramine combine, they can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure.

This is why modern ayahuasca preparation includes specific dietary guidelines that weren’t necessary for indigenous peoples, whose traditional diets naturally avoided most problematic foods. Your body, adapted to a Western diet, needs different preparation than someone raised on traditional Amazonian foods.

The good news? These restrictions are temporary, reasonable, and designed to keep you safe while maximizing the medicine’s effectiveness.

What to Eat: Nourishing Your Journey

Let’s start with the positive—what you CAN and SHOULD eat during your ayahuasca diet preparation. This approach honors the Colombian tradition of viewing preparation as nourishment rather than deprivation.

Colombian Traditional Foods

The foods that have sustained Colombian indigenous communities for generations offer perfect guidance for ayahuasca preparation. These simple, whole foods provide steady energy while avoiding the compounds that might interfere with the medicine.

Plantain serves as a cornerstone of Colombian preparation diets. Rich in potassium and easy to digest, plantain can be boiled, baked, or grilled. Green plantain provides sustained energy, while ripe plantain offers natural sweetness when you’re craving something more satisfying.

Yuca (cassava) provides another excellent foundation food. This starchy root vegetable fills you up without overwhelming your digestive system. Boiled yuca with a little salt makes a simple, satisfying meal that connects you to the traditional foods of the region where your ceremony will take place.

Fresh fish from Colombian rivers and coasts offers clean protein that’s easy to digest. Grilled or steamed fish with simple seasonings provides the nutrients your body needs without the complications of aged or processed proteins.

Practical Meal Planning

Building your meals around these foundation foods during your ayahuasca diet doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Here’s how to create satisfying, nourishing meals during your preparation:

Breakfast options: Start your day with oatmeal topped with fresh banana, or scrambled eggs with a side of boiled plantain. Herbal teas like chamomile or mint provide gentle hydration without caffeine.

Lunch and dinner: Build meals around rice or quinoa with steamed vegetables and a simple protein like fresh fish or eggs. Season with fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley, and add healthy fats from avocado or olive oil.

Snacks: Fresh fruits like bananas, apples, or pears satisfy sweet cravings naturally. A handful of unsalted nuts or seeds provides protein and healthy fats between meals.

The key is simplicity. Your digestive system will thank you for choosing foods that are easy to process, leaving more energy available for the deeper work of ceremony.

The Essential Ayahuasca Diet Guidelines

Now let’s walk through the timeline of preparation, understanding that flexibility and intention matter more than rigid perfection.

Two Weeks Before: Foundation Building

This initial phase focuses on gradually eliminating the substances that pose the greatest risks or interfere most significantly with the medicine’s action.

Eliminate completely: Alcohol deserves special attention here. Beyond the obvious MAOI interactions, alcohol affects your liver’s ability to process the medicine effectively and can interfere with the emotional and spiritual openness that ceremony requires. If you regularly consume alcohol, stopping two weeks before ceremony gives your body time to clear these effects completely.

Recreational drugs, including marijuana, should also be eliminated during this period. While cannabis doesn’t pose the same physical dangers as alcohol, it can create a mental fog that interferes with the clarity and presence that ceremony requires.

Sexual activity is traditionally avoided during preparation, not from moral judgment, but because orgasm releases many of the same neurotransmitters that ayahuasca works with. Preserving this energy is believed to enhance the medicine’s effectiveness.

Reduce gradually: Begin cutting back on processed foods, excessive sugar, and heavy meals. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about moving in the direction of cleaner, simpler eating. If you normally eat fast food daily, reducing to once or twice this week is progress.

Add mindfully: Begin incorporating meditation, intention-setting, or simple breathing practices into your daily routine. Start thinking about why you’re called to this ceremony and what you hope to learn or heal.

One Week Before: Deepening the Practice

This is when the dietary guidelines become more specific, focusing on the foods most likely to interact dangerously with the medicine’s MAOI compounds.

Aged and fermented foods top the avoidance list during this crucial week. This includes aged cheeses (the older the cheese, the higher the tyramine content), fermented soy products like miso and soy sauce, and cured meats like salami or pepperoni.

Overripe or spoiled foods should be avoided completely. That banana that’s gotten too brown or the leftovers that have been in your fridge for several days could contain elevated tyramine levels.

Chocolate and cacao require special attention. While small amounts of high-quality dark chocolate might be acceptable early in the week, it’s safest to eliminate all chocolate products during the final few days before ceremony.

Sample daily meal plan:

– Morning: Oatmeal with fresh banana and herbal tea

– Midday: Rice bowl with steamed vegetables and grilled fish

– Evening: Quinoa soup with fresh herbs and a side of boiled yuca

– Snacks: Fresh apple slices, unsalted almonds, or herbal tea

24–48 Hours Before: Final Preparation

The final phase of preparation focuses on foods that are light, easily digestible, and unlikely to cause any stomach upset during ceremony.

Stick to the simplest versions of the foods you’ve been eating: plain rice, steamed vegetables, fresh fruits, and plenty of water. This isn’t the time to try new foods or eat large meals.

Many people find that eating lightly during this period actually feels good—your body is preparing for the deep work ahead, and heavy foods can feel burdensome.

Hydration becomes especially important during these final hours. Drink plenty of clean water, but avoid overhydrating immediately before ceremony, as you’ll want to minimize bathroom trips during the experience.

Common Challenges and How to Navigate Them

Real life rarely unfolds as neatly as preparation guidelines suggest. Here’s how to handle the most common challenges people face during their ayahuasca diet preparation.

Social Situations and Family Meals

Explaining your dietary restrictions to friends and family can feel awkward, especially if they don’t understand your reasons for participating in ceremony. You don’t owe anyone a detailed explanation of your spiritual choices, but having a simple response ready can help.

Try something like: “I’m doing a cleanse before a wellness retreat” or “I’m following a specific diet for health reasons.” Most people will respect your boundaries without requiring extensive details.

When eating out becomes necessary, focus on restaurants where you can easily identify safe options. Grilled fish with rice and steamed vegetables is available at most restaurants. Don’t be afraid to ask for modifications—most kitchens can prepare simple foods without problematic seasonings or sauces.

Cravings and Emotional Eating

As you eliminate familiar foods, you might notice cravings that feel more emotional than physical. This is normal and actually part of the preparation process. The foods we crave often serve as emotional regulators, and removing them can bring underlying feelings to the surface.

Instead of fighting these cravings, try to understand what they’re telling you. Are you stressed about the upcoming ceremony? Anxious about changes in your life? These emotions might be exactly what the medicine wants to help you explore.

Gentle alternatives can help: herbal tea when you crave coffee, fresh fruit when you want sugar, or a warm bath when you want to reach for comfort food.

Travel and Preparation Logistics

If you’re traveling to Colombia for your ceremony, maintaining your ayahuasca diet preparation while navigating airports and unfamiliar foods requires some planning.

Pack safe snacks for travel days: nuts, dried fruit (without sulfites), and energy bars made with simple ingredients. Research restaurants near your accommodation that can provide simple, safe meals.

Remember that stress about perfect adherence to the diet can be more harmful than minor dietary slip-ups. Do your best, stay hydrated, and trust that your sincere intention to prepare properly matters more than perfection.

Foods to Avoid: Understanding the Why

For medical background on MAOIs and tyramine, see this overview from the Mayo Clinic.

Knowledge empowers better choices than fear-based rules. Here’s why certain foods are restricted during ayahuasca preparation, helping you make informed decisions rather than blindly following prohibitions.

High-Tyramine Foods

Aged cheeses like blue cheese, aged cheddar, or parmesan contain high levels of tyramine that develop during the aging process. Fresh cheeses like mozzarella or cottage cheese contain much lower levels and may be acceptable early in your preparation.

Cured and processed meats including salami, pepperoni, hot dogs, and bacon are preserved using methods that increase tyramine content. Fresh, simply prepared meats are generally safe if consumed early in the preparation period.

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and soy sauce are created through fermentation processes that naturally produce tyramine. While these foods are healthy under normal circumstances, they pose risks when combined with MAOIs.

Stimulants and Mood-Altering Substances

Caffeine deserves special consideration because it’s so prevalent in modern diets. While small amounts of caffeine early in your preparation might be acceptable, eliminating coffee, tea, and energy drinks during the final week helps prevent interactions and allows your natural energy rhythms to emerge.

Alcohol must be completely eliminated not just for MAOI safety, but because it interferes with the liver’s ability to process the medicine effectively. Even small amounts can impact your ceremony experience significantly.

Foods That May Cause Digestive Upset

Spicy foods can irritate your digestive system and make the physical aspects of ceremony more uncomfortable. The purging that often accompanies ayahuasca is easier to handle when your stomach isn’t already irritated.

Heavy, fatty foods require significant digestive energy and can make you feel sluggish during ceremony. Save the rich meals for after your integration period.

Artificial additives including preservatives, artificial colors, and flavor enhancers can affect sensitive individuals more strongly during the heightened awareness that follows ceremony preparation.

Integration: Carrying Dietary Wisdom Forward

The ayahuasca diet offers more than just ceremony preparation—it provides a window into how food affects your body, mind, and spirit. Many people discover that the simple, whole foods they eat during preparation actually make them feel better than their normal diet.

How Preparation Diet Becomes Lifestyle Practice

Pay attention to how different foods make you feel during your preparation period. Do you have more stable energy when you eat simple, whole foods? Does eliminating processed foods improve your sleep or mood? These insights can guide healthier choices long after your ceremony.

The mindfulness required for diet preparation—reading labels, planning meals, choosing nourishing options—can become a form of ongoing self-care. You’re learning to treat your body as the sacred vessel it is, worthy of high-quality fuel and conscious attention.

Long-term Benefits Beyond Ceremony

Many ceremony participants report that their relationship with food changes permanently after experiencing how good they feel on a clean, simple diet. The cravings for processed foods often diminish, replaced by genuine hunger for foods that truly nourish.

This isn’t about maintaining rigid restrictions forever, but about developing a more conscious, appreciative relationship with what you eat. Food becomes medicine, fuel, and pleasure rather than just habit or emotional regulation.

“The Real Ceremony is Life Itself” Philosophy

At Camino al Sol, we believe that ceremony is not a separate event but a doorway into living more consciously every day. The discipline and mindfulness you develop during diet preparation can extend into all areas of your life—how you speak to yourself, how you treat your relationships, how you approach challenges.

The ayahuasca diet teaches you that small, consistent choices compound into significant transformation. This lesson extends far beyond food into every aspect of conscious living.

Frequently Asked Questions

Focus on simple, whole foods that are fresh and minimally processed. Safe options include rice, quinoa, fresh vegetables (steamed or lightly cooked), fresh fruits like bananas and apples, fresh fish, eggs, plantain, yuca, and herbal teas. Colombian traditional foods work particularly well: boiled plantain provides sustained energy, yuca offers satisfying starch, and fresh fish supplies clean protein. Build your meals around these foundation foods, seasoned simply with fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley. The key is choosing foods that are easy to digest and free from the compounds that might interact with the medicine’s MAOI properties.

Most commercial breads should be avoided during ayahuasca preparation because they contain yeast, preservatives, and additives that can interfere with the medicine. The fermentation process used to make bread can also create compounds that interact with MAOIs. Safe alternatives include simple rice cakes, corn tortillas made without additives, or homemade bread made without yeast (like flatbreads). If you’re craving something bread-like, try boiled plantain or yuca, which provide similar satisfaction without the problematic ingredients. Read labels carefully—even “healthy” breads often contain ingredients like aged vinegar or fermented additives that are best avoided during preparation.

Fresh eggs are generally safe and provide excellent nutrition during ayahuasca preparation. They’re a clean source of protein that’s easy to digest and doesn’t contain the tyramine compounds found in aged or processed foods. Stick to simple preparation methods: boiled, poached, or scrambled with minimal seasoning. Avoid egg dishes that include aged cheeses, processed meats, or heavy sauces. If you’re buying eggs, choose the freshest available and store them properly. Avoid any egg products that have been sitting in your refrigerator for more than a week.

The minimum preparation period is typically 3–7 days before ceremony, but 1–2 weeks provides better preparation and safety margins. Your experience level, current health, and regular diet all influence the ideal timeline. If you currently eat a lot of processed foods, drink alcohol regularly, or take medications, starting your preparation two weeks early gives your body more time to adjust and clear potentially problematic substances. First-time participants often benefit from the longer preparation period because it helps them develop confidence with the dietary changes and creates more space for mental and emotional preparation.

The ayahuasca diet serves both safety and effectiveness purposes. From a safety perspective, the medicine contains natural MAOIs that can interact dangerously with certain foods high in tyramine, potentially causing dangerous blood pressure spikes. From an effectiveness perspective, clean eating helps your body process the medicine more efficiently and can reduce uncomfortable physical side effects during ceremony. Many people also find that dietary preparation helps them feel more mentally and emotionally ready for the experience. Traditional indigenous wisdom views dietary preparation as a form of respect for the medicine and a way to demonstrate your serious intention to receive its teachings.

Aged cheeses like blue cheese, aged cheddar, or parmesan must be avoided completely during the final week before ceremony due to high tyramine content. Fresh cheeses like mozzarella contain lower levels but are still best avoided during the final few days. Chocolate and cacao contain compounds that can interact with MAOIs. Small amounts of high-quality dark chocolate might be acceptable early in your preparation, but eliminate all chocolate products during the final 3–4 days before ceremony. Alcohol must be completely eliminated at least one week before ceremony, though two weeks is safer. Alcohol affects your liver’s ability to process the medicine and can interfere with the emotional openness that ceremony requires.

Fresh avocado is generally safe in moderation during most of your preparation period. Avoid overripe avocados, which may contain higher levels of tyramine. Stop eating avocado 2–3 days before ceremony to be extra cautious. Fresh tomatoes are typically fine, but avoid aged tomato products like aged balsamic vinegar or fermented tomato sauces. Simple, fresh tomato preparations are usually acceptable early in your preparation. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are generally safe, though some people find acidic foods can increase stomach sensitivity. If you’re prone to digestive issues, you might want to limit citrus during the final few days before ceremony.

Simple breakfast options work best during preparation. Try oatmeal with fresh banana and a drizzle of honey, or scrambled eggs with a side of boiled plantain. Herbal teas like chamomile or mint provide gentle hydration without caffeine. Colombian-style breakfasts might include fresh fruit juice (without added sugars), boiled plantain with a pinch of salt, or simple rice with fresh herbs. Avoid typical breakfast foods like coffee, aged cheeses, processed meats, or pastries. Keep portions moderate—you want to feel nourished but not heavy as you start your day.

Yes! Focus on simple combinations of safe ingredients. Try rice bowls with steamed vegetables and grilled fish, quinoa soup with fresh herbs, or plantain and yuca with simple seasonings. A typical day might include: oatmeal with banana for breakfast, rice and vegetable soup for lunch, grilled fish with steamed vegetables for dinner, and fresh fruit or herbal tea for snacks. The key is keeping recipes simple with minimal ingredients. Avoid complex sauces, multiple spices, or elaborate preparations that might include problematic ingredients.

Don’t panic. Assess what and how much you consumed, and how close you are to your ceremony date. Small amounts of mildly restricted foods (like a bite of aged cheese) several days before ceremony are unlikely to cause serious problems. If you consumed a significant amount of a high-tyramine food within 24–48 hours of ceremony, contact your ceremony facilitators immediately. They can help you assess whether it’s safe to proceed or if you should postpone. Remember that stress about dietary mistakes can be more harmful than minor slip-ups. Do your best, learn from the experience, and maintain your sincere intention to prepare properly.

Absolutely! Plant-based diets are often easier to follow during ayahuasca preparation because they naturally avoid many problematic animal products like aged cheeses and cured meats. Focus on protein sources like quinoa, rice and beans (prepared simply), and nuts in moderation. Ensure you’re getting adequate nutrition by including a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Many traditional ayahuasca preparation diets are naturally plant-based, emphasizing foods like plantain, yuca, rice, and fresh vegetables that have sustained indigenous communities for generations.

Continue taking essential medications under medical supervision—never stop prescribed medications without consulting your doctor. However, inform your ceremony facilitators about all medications you’re taking, as some can interact with ayahuasca. Avoid supplements that contain stimulants, tyramine, or mood-altering compounds. This includes many weight-loss supplements, energy boosters, and some herbal preparations. Natural supplements that support preparation might include probiotics (to support digestive health), magnesium (for relaxation), or B-vitamins (for energy), but check with your facilitators before adding anything new to your routine.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Preparing for ayahuasca ceremony is an act of courage and self-love. By taking the time to prepare your body properly, you’re demonstrating respect for the medicine, the tradition, and your own healing journey.

Remember that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s sincere effort and conscious preparation. The medicine works with your intention as much as your dietary discipline. Trust the process, be gentle with yourself, and know that thousands of people have walked this path before you.

At Camino al Sol, we’re here to support you through every step of your preparation and integration. Our experienced team understands both the traditional wisdom and modern safety requirements that make for successful, transformative ceremonies.

If you have questions about your specific situation, dietary restrictions, or preparation concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We believe that proper preparation is the foundation of profound healing, and we’re committed to helping you approach your ceremony with confidence and clarity.

The path of the medicine is calling you forward. Trust yourself, prepare consciously, and open your heart to the healing that awaits.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us to discuss your ayahuasca ceremony preparation, or learn more about our retreats in the Colombian Andes.

Ayahuasca Diet: Absolute Guide to Purify Your Body and Mind for Ceremony