The Ayahuasca Diet Guide: How to Prepare Your Body, Mind & Spirit

A typical family-style meal on a plant medicine retreat at Posada Natura.

The ayahuasca diet (known traditionally as the “dieta”) is one of the most common questions people have about an ayahuasca retreat. While food is well-known as one of the most important aspects of the dieta for preparing the body, you’ll also want to be mindful of your lifestyle choices to prepare your mind and soul to receive the healing energy of the medicine. The following serves as a guide for how to prepare for your ayahuasca retreat as best you can. Embrace the time before coming on retreat as an opportunity to more deeply tune into yourself and place more intention and care on balanced food and lifestyle choices.

In the weeks leading up to your ceremony, you will begin preparing your body with these dietary recommendations in our ayahuasca diet food list. A traditional ayahuasca dieta is a spiritual practice unto itself, often done in isolation with a very restricted diet and periods of fasting. Plant dietas are acts of devotion, intention, and commitment to the spirit of the medicine.

For our purposes, we'll be focusing on eating clean and avoiding foods for your ayahuasca retreat preparation that could have uncomfortable interactions with the medicine. Once you arrive at the retreat center in Costa Rica, you will be served nutritious organic seasonal food made with love and aligned with the dietary guidelines. To learn more about what to expect during your stay, visit our plant medicine retreat overview and read our blog on what to expect from an ayahuasca ceremony.

Preparing for an Ayahuasca Retreat

Setting the Right Intention

The most important aspect of preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony is to approach the experience in a respectful way. This plant medicine can work in deeply profound ways to physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually recalibrate one’s being and provide insight on one’s life. The more attention that you can give to this process ahead of time to prepare for the experience and to clarify your purpose, the better. 

Physical Preparation for the Ayahuasca Diet (Dieta)

Regarding physical preparation and what to eat before an ayahuasca ceremony, try to consume a balanced and healthy diet building up to the retreat. 

A typical family-style breakfast during a plant medicine retreat at Posada Natura.

Foods & Activities to Avoid (At Least 1 Week) Before Your Ayahuasca Ceremony

• Processed foods (candy, chips, fast food, etc.)

• Artificial ingredients 

• Red meat and pork

• Fried foods 

• Excessively salty, pungent (spicy), or sweet foods (fruit is ok)

• Limit spices such as cayenne pepper, chili, curry, etc.

• Vinegars (apple cider vinegar, balsamic, etc.)

• Dairy products

• Reduce or abstain from caffeine 

• Alcohol, marijuana, and all recreational substances (min. 1 week, more time 2+ weeks is better) 

• If you use cannabis on a regular basis consider stopping completely 2 weeks before or cutting way down 1 week before the ceremony. Oftentimes cannabis interferes with one’s receptivity to ayahuasca.

• Sex and masturbation (min. 4 days before the first ceremony and ideally 4 days after)

Recommended Foods for Your Ayahuasca Preparation Diet

• Whole, organic, real food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.

• Organic eggs, chicken, or fish (if you eat animal proteins)

• Tofu

• Nuts and nut butters

• All vegetables except excessive onions and garlic

• Beans and lentils (best to avoid the day before)

• Potatoes 

• Rice, pasta, quinoa, etc.

• Fresh herbs

• Coconut water 

Final Days Before Ceremony: What to Avoid

• Completely avoid the restricted foods mentioned above

• Avoid fermented foods

• Avoid citrus fruits (orange, lemon, etc.)

• Stay hydrated 

Night Before Ceremony: Simple Foods and Good Rest

• Eat a simple and clean diet 

• Get as much rest as possible

Day of Ceremony: Fasting, Hydration, and Energy Management

• Have a normal (simple) breakfast and lunch 

• Limit or abstain from caffeine 

• If you are feeling hungry later in the day, have a snack by 4pm (soup, fruit, or something easily digestible). 

• After lunch abstain from all food 

• Stay very hydrated on the day before and on the day of the ceremony. 

• Try to drink as little as possible after 7pm. If you are thirsty, have a glass of water or herbal tea, but at this point, it is not an appropriate time to fully 'hydrate'. It is best if your stomach is as empty to receive the medicine.  

Medications and Contraindications for the Ayahuasca Diet

• Some medications are contraindicated with ayahuasca. If you regularly take a prescribed medication (especially SSRIs and other antidepressants) please consult with the facilitator upon registration or as soon as you start taking it, if you’re already registered. 

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Psychological Preparation for Your Ayahuasca Journey

The best way to psychologically prepare is to focus on what you are seeking out of the ceremony and to relax. Remember that aside from a 'substance' you will be encountering the spirit of a sacred and ancestral sacrament. 

Building up to the ceremony, it’s important to cultivate the balance of purposefully going into the experience with intention and letting go of expectation. Plant medicine is a tool; The long term effectiveness of it depends on how the person utilizes the tool and integrates it into their lives. We like the way that a traditional healer once described it: the ceremonies are the easy part- our daily life is what brings the experience of the sacrament to life. 

You will have an opportunity to meet with the facilitator prior to the ceremony to further discuss your intention or personal history.  

Spiritual Preparation for Your Ayahuasca Ceremony

Spiritually and emotionally it’s helpful to prepare by being mindful about your lifestyle choices the week before. It’s a good time to engage in contemplative practices such as meditation, mindful movement, yoga, walking in nature, journaling, etc. However you can direct your energy and choices to put yourself in touch with your intention for coming to the ceremony is recommended. 

We also suggest avoiding violent movies, stimulating media, and all experiences that are disruptive to your mental, spiritual, and emotional equilibrium on the days before. Sometimes this cannot be prevented and that’s okay too, just try to be mindful of your lifestyle choices. 

Post-Ceremony Diet: How to Nourish Your Body and Mind

Daily yoga classes and meditation during your plant medicine retreat at Posada Natura.

Plan to have an easy-going day after the ceremony to assimilate the experience. Consider continuing to observe the dietary guidelines recommended above and abstain from alcohol and recreational drugs for at least a week. This will support you in getting the most out of the ceremony experience. Note that you may be especially sensitive to other substances after the ceremony as well as foods and experiences that are not good for you.  

Also, be aware that this work often moves a lot of energy in your emotional body. It’s very common to feel especially sensitive and reflective after ceremonies. After ceremonies is a good time to engage in contemplative practices to more deeply integrate the experience. It’s also wise not to make big decisions about your life or relationships until at least 1-2 weeks after ceremonies. We encourage you to let your insights settle before you make big choices.  

Be aware that after ceremonies some individuals go through a period of feeling emotionally sensitive or even destabilized. Please reach out to us if you are feeling this way so that we can give you guidance and/or direct you to supportive resources if necessary.

After the Ceremony: What to Embrace for Integration

• Connecting with nature

• Physical activity

• Vital, clean, whole foods

• Journaling

• Seeking inspiring books, podcasts, and music

• Yoga and meditation

• Prayer

• Gratitude

• 1 on 1 Integration coaching

• Community

What to Avoid After Your Ayahuasca Ceremony (For at Least 1 Week)

• Alcohol

• Overworking and stress

• Recreational substances including cannabis (THC)

• Processed food, sugar, and artificial ingredients

• Excess caffeine

• Red meat

• Negative stimuli (news, social media, violent or disturbing imagery)

Closing Thoughts on the Ayahuasca Diet and Ceremony Preparation

While ayahuasca dieta recommendations may vary from different retreat centers, the principle aspects of the dieta outlined here are commonly shared for many shamans, taitas, ayahuascqueros and ayahuascqueras across the Amazon. Traditionally, dieta holds a deep spiritual significance in preparing for an ayahuasca ceremony - beneficial both for your experience and in reverence to the spirit of the plant medicine. 

Ready to begin your healing journey? Explore our upcoming ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica or reach out to us with any questions.

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