The Dieta - Complete Guide to Ayahuasca Dietary Preparation

What Is the Dieta?

The dieta (or diet) is a traditional preparatory practice that involves dietary and lifestyle restrictions before (and sometimes after) ayahuasca ceremony. It’s rooted in indigenous Amazonian traditions and varies significantly between different lineages.

The basic idea: Clean your body and energy to receive the medicine more clearly.

The reality: There’s a spectrum from ultra-strict multi-month dietas to basic harm-reduction guidelines. Where you fall on that spectrum depends on your tradition, your facilitator, and your own practice.

Common experience: Practitioners report varied approaches, from minimal two-day cleanups to rigorous 30-day dietas. Both have led to profound ceremonies. The medicine meets you where you are.

Why the Dieta Matters

1. Physical Safety (MOST IMPORTANT)

Ayahuasca contains MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), which interact dangerously with:

• Certain medications (SSRIs, other antidepressants, many more)
• Tyramine-rich foods (aged cheeses, fermented foods, cured meats)
• Other substances (alcohol, recreational drugs, some supplements)

These interactions can cause life-threatening spikes in blood pressure.

See our Medication Interactions guide for comprehensive safety information.

2. Reduces Physical Discomfort

A cleaner diet before ceremony typically means:

• Less intense nausea
• Easier purging (if you purge)
• Faster recovery after ceremony
• More comfortable sitting for 6+ hours

Not a guarantee, but it helps.

3. Traditional Respect

The dieta is how indigenous practitioners have worked with the medicine for centuries. Following it (to whatever degree you can) shows respect for the tradition.

Cultural note: Some Westerners are overly precious about dieta, while others completely ignore it. Neither extreme honors the tradition. Do your sincere best.

4. Mental/Spiritual Preparation

Practicing dietary discipline:

• Demonstrates commitment to the work
• Builds intention through sacrifice
• Creates mental clarity
• Shifts you out of autopilot habits
• Prepares you to surrender control

The dieta is practice for ceremony itself: working with discomfort and letting go.

The Basic Dieta: 2 Weeks Before Ceremony

This is a reasonable baseline that balances safety, tradition, and real-life practicality.

ELIMINATE (Non-Negotiable for Safety)

❌ Alcohol (all types)

• Interacts dangerously with MAOIs
• Dampens the medicine’s effects
• Takes days to fully clear your system

❌ Recreational drugs

• Cannabis, cocaine, MDMA, psychedelics, etc.
• Dangerous interactions with ayahuasca
• Muddy the energetic field

❌ Medications with MAOI interactions

• SSRIs, SNRIs, other antidepressants (typically need 4-6 weeks off)
• Stimulants, diet pills, decongestants
• See Medication Interactions for full list
• NEVER stop psychiatric medications without medical supervision

❌ Tyramine-rich foods (MAOI interaction risk)

• Aged cheeses (cheddar, blue cheese, parmesan)
• Cured/processed meats (salami, pepperoni, hot dogs)
• Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, soy sauce)
• Pickled foods
• Yeast extracts (Marmite, nutritional yeast)
• Overripe or dried fruits

ELIMINATE (Traditional Practice)

❌ Red meat and pork

• Considered “heavy” energetically
• Harder to digest
• Some traditions say it interferes with the plant spirits

❌ Excessive salt

• Minimal salt is usually okay
• Avoid heavily salted/processed foods

❌ Refined sugar

• Candy, desserts, sodas
• Natural fruit sugars are usually fine

❌ Spicy foods

• Hot peppers, excessive spices
• Can increase nausea during ceremony

❌ Dairy (in many traditions)

• Some lineages allow it, others don’t
• If you include it, keep it minimal and simple

❌ Excessive oils and fats

• No deep-fried foods
• Minimal cooking oils
• Avoid rich, heavy meals

REDUCE GRADUALLY

☕ Caffeine

• Quit cold turkey = withdrawal headaches during ceremony (terrible)
• Taper over 1-2 weeks
• Some people allow a little green tea
• Be off it completely 3-4 days before ceremony

🍫 Chocolate

• Contains caffeine and other stimulants
• Traditional dietas exclude it
• Not a safety issue, but better without

🥖 Processed foods

• Anything in a package with ingredients you can’t pronounce
• Move toward whole, simple foods

EMPHASIZE (What to Eat)

✅ Fresh fruits

• Especially tropical fruits (papaya, mango, pineapple)
• Apples, pears, melons
• Eat them fresh, not dried

✅ Fresh vegetables

• Steamed, boiled, or raw
• Root vegetables (yams, potatoes, carrots)
• Leafy greens
• Keep it simple - minimal seasoning

✅ Whole grains

• Rice (especially white rice)
• Quinoa
• Oats
• Plain bread (no added sugars/preservatives)

✅ Simple proteins

• White fish (in moderation)
• Chicken (in moderation)
• Eggs (some traditions)
• Legumes (beans, lentils)

✅ Water

• Lots of it
• Herbal teas (gentle, no caffeinated)
• Coconut water

The vibe: Simple, clean, whole foods your grandmother would recognize.

The Strict Dieta: For Deep Work

Some people practice a more rigorous dieta, especially for extended work with ayahuasca or other plant medicines.

Additional Restrictions (Weeks to Months)

• All animal products (fully vegetarian or vegan)
• No garlic or onions (considered stimulating)
• No sex or masturbation (conserve energy)
• Minimal social contact (reduce energetic “clutter”)
• No media consumption (TV, social media, news)
• Extended fasting before ceremony (24+ hours)

Sexual Energy (La Dieta Sexual)

Many traditions recommend sexual abstinence 1-2 weeks before ceremony, including:

• Partnered sex
• Masturbation
• Watching/reading sexual content

The theory: Sexual energy is creative/spiritual energy. Conserving it intensifies ceremony work.

Common experience: Many have tried both approaches. Abstinence has been reported to make ceremonies more intense and clear. But it’s not make-or-break. If you have a partner, talk about it together.

If you choose abstinence: Start 7-14 days before ceremony.

After Ceremony: The Integration Dieta

Some traditions recommend continuing dietary restrictions after ceremony.

Common Post-Ceremony Dieta (3-7 Days)

• Gentle reintroduction of foods
• Stay vegetarian/vegan
• No alcohol or drugs
• No sexual activity (some traditions)
• Continue simple, clean eating
• Gradual return to normal diet

Why: Your energetic field is open and sensitive. The medicine is still working in your system.

Reality: Most people return to normal eating within a few days. Do what feels right.

Honest Talk: Being Imperfect With the Dieta

Few have done a perfect dieta.

Accidental slips happen - soy sauce (fermented), coffee cravings leading to negotiations, “one last burger” before starting, broken dieta followed by guilt.

And the medicine still worked.

What Matters Most

1. Do the safety stuff - MAOI interactions are real and dangerous. Don’t fuck around with medications and contraindicated foods.

2. Do your sincere best - The medicine cares about your intention and effort more than perfection.

3. Be honest - If you broke dieta, tell your facilitator. They need to know for safety and dosing.

4. Don’t catastrophize - Ate cheese by accident? You’re not going to die or ruin ceremony. Relax.

When “Good Enough” Is Good Enough

If you:

• Avoid all dangerous interactions (meds, alcohol, tyramine-rich foods)
• Eliminate processed foods and heavy meals
• Eat mostly plants and simple foods
• Fast 4-6 hours before ceremony

You’ve done enough. Seriously.

When to Be Stricter

Consider a rigorous dieta if:

• You’re doing extended ceremony work (multiple days/ceremonies)
• Your tradition specifically requires it
• You want to go deeper in the work
• You’re working with specific plant dietas (not just ayahuasca)
• You feel called to the discipline

But remember: Strict dieta without integration practice is like polishing a car that doesn’t run. The daily practice after ceremony matters more than perfection before.

Common Dieta Challenges

“I Can’t Afford Organic/Fresh Food”

Do your best with what you have access to.

The spirits don’t require Whole Foods receipts. Clean eating on a budget:

• Rice and beans (cheap, perfect dieta food)
• Seasonal local produce
• Frozen vegetables (nutritionally sound)
• Eggs (if your tradition allows)
• Tap water (it’s fine)

“I Have Dietary Restrictions/Food Allergies”

Work with what your body needs:

• Gluten-free? Stick to rice, quinoa, potatoes
• Vegan already? Perfect, you’re halfway there
• Diabetic? Manage blood sugar, consult your doctor
• Eating disorder history? Don’t let dieta become restriction spiral

Your health comes first. Talk to your facilitator.

“My Family/Work Makes This Impossible”

• Bring your own food to gatherings
• Explain briefly (“I’m doing a health reset”) without oversharing
• Prep meals in advance
• One week of weird eating is manageable
• You don’t owe anyone explanations

“I Keep Breaking Dieta and Feeling Guilty”

Guilt doesn’t help the medicine work.

If you keep breaking dieta, ask yourself:

• Am I actually ready for ceremony?
• Is this resistance telling me something?
• Are my expectations unrealistic?
• Do I need more time to prepare?

It’s okay to postpone ceremony if you’re not ready.

Day Before Ceremony: Final Preparation

Last 24 Hours

Eat:

• Very simple foods
• Mostly fruit and vegetables
• White rice, plain
• Water, lots of it

Avoid:

• Heavy meals
• Anything you’ve been restricting
• New foods (not the time to experiment)

Day of Ceremony

Fasting: Most traditions require 4-6 hours of fasting before drinking medicine.

Allowed:

• Water (stay hydrated, but don’t overdo it)
• Light fruit early in the day (banana, apple)

Avoid:

• Full meals
• Fats and oils
• Large volumes of food

Why: Empty stomach makes purging easier and less miserable.

Hydration: Drink water throughout the day, but slow down 2 hours before ceremony (you don’t want a full bladder either).

Cultural Context: Whose Dieta?

The dieta varies significantly:

Traditional Amazonian practice:

• Often months-long for healing with specific plants
• Extreme isolation and restriction
• Part of apprenticeship and deep healing work

Mestizo/vegetalista traditions:

• Moderate restrictions (2-4 weeks)
• Focus on purification and respect
• Sexual abstinence common

Western ceremony contexts:

• Usually 1-2 weeks
• Harm reduction focused
• Adapted for modern life

None of these is “wrong.” Follow the guidance of your specific tradition and facilitator.

But don’t appropriate: If you’re not in traditional apprenticeship, don’t claim you’re doing “the indigenous dieta.” Be honest about what you’re actually doing.

Your Dieta Commitment

Before ceremony, write down:

What I’m committing to:

• Start date:
• Foods I’m eliminating:
• Foods I’m emphasizing:
• Other practices (sexual abstinence, media fast, etc.):

Why this matters to me:

If I break dieta:

• I will be honest with my facilitator
• I will not catastrophize
• I will recommit or reassess if I’m ready

Final Thoughts

The dieta is not about perfection. It’s about preparing your body and demonstrating to yourself (and the medicine) that you’re serious about this work.

Do your honest best.
Follow the safety guidelines.
Show respect for the tradition.
Let go of perfectionism.

The medicine will meet you where you are.

Resources

• Before Ceremony Guide - Complete preparation
• Medication Interactions - Critical safety info
• What to Expect - During ceremony
• First Timer’s Guide - If this is your first time

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You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be sincere.