Diet & Journey Preparation

Nourish your body for a meaningful journey.

How you eat before, during, and after a psychedelic experience can influence the depth, clarity, and integration of your insights. From spontaneous solo sessions to ceremonial or clinical journeys, your body is the vessel—so treat it with care.

Why Is Diet Important?

Psychedelics amplify your sensitivity—to emotions, sensations, thoughts, and your physical state. When your digestive system is calm and your energy is clear, your body becomes a better container for the experience.

A mindful diet supports:

• Deeper focus and fewer distractions

• Smoother come-ups and transitions

• Reduced nausea or body discomfort

• Improved emotional regulation and clarity

• Stronger post-journey integration

Just like breathwork or journaling, dietary prep can align your inner and outer worlds.

A Brief History of Dietary Prep

Many Indigenous traditions emphasize dietary restrictions (or dieta) before plant medicine ceremonies. These aren’t about purity—they’re about building respectful relationships with the medicine.

Traditional reasons include:

• Clearing the body of toxins

• Creating space for spiritual or emotional content

• Reducing interference from stimulants or processed foods

• Strengthening willpower and discipline

In modern psychedelic therapy, similar principles apply—grounding your nervous system and preparing your mind to receive insight.

What to Eat & What to Avoid

Foods to Embrace

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• Cooked grains (quinoa, rice, oats)

• Legumes, lentils

• Herbal teas (chamomile, lemon balm, ginger)

• Bone broth or veggie soup

• Small portions of nuts, seeds, and light oils

Foods to Avoid

• Red meat and heavy animal products

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Processed sugar and artificial sweeteners

• Fried, greasy, or overly salty foods

• Fermented foods (for some protocols)

• Ultra-processed snacks and packaged meals

Ask: Will this food feel good in my body four hours from now? Will it support clarity and presence?

A Note on Fasting

Fasting can be a powerful preparation tool—but it’s not required for everyone. Some traditions and clinical settings recommend fasting to enhance absorption and focus, but always listen to your body.

Guidelines:

• Light fasting (12–14 hours overnight) supports clarity

• Some journeyers fast completely the day of (water only)

• Don’t attempt extended fasting if you're new to it or have medical concerns

If fasting increases anxiety or dizziness, eat something small and grounding like fruit or broth.

The Three Levels of Dietary Preparation

Choose what fits your time, needs, and goals. Each level offers its own kind of wisdom.

1. Basic Prep (1–2 Days Before & After)

Perfect for beginners, spontaneous journeys, or microdosing.

Days Before:

• Eat light, whole meals (soups, steamed veggies, rice, fruits)

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, red meat, fried or processed foods

• Hydrate consistently

• Optional: Gentle evening tea (e.g., reishi or chamomile)

Day Of:

• Eat a small, light meal if needed (fruit, oatmeal, broth)

• Or fast until after the journey

• Avoid overhydrating

Day After:

• Break your fast with fruit, warm rice, or soup

• Avoid numbing with sugar, alcohol, or social media

• Reflect and eat with intention

2. Weeklong Prep & Recovery

A middle path that honors the process more deeply.

Week Before:

• Cut out inflammatory foods: sugar, alcohol, red meat, dairy

• Prioritize whole plants: fruits, greens, legumes, clean grains

• Move your body, hydrate, and tune in

Day Of:

• Fast (if aligned), or eat light 3–4 hours before

• Check in with your body—not everyone journeys best on an empty stomach

Week After:

• Ease back into normal foods

• Avoid overstimulation and processed foods

• Observe cravings—they may carry emotional symbolism

• Journal about what nourishes vs. what numbs

3. Extended Protocol (2–4 Weeks)

For ceremonial journeys, deep healing, or plant dietas.

Weeks Before:

• Follow a plant-based, low-spice, low-salt whole-food diet

• Avoid: alcohol, caffeine, red meat, fermented foods, dairy

• Abstain from sexual activity in some traditions

• Incorporate: meditation, breathwork, nature time, intentional solitude

• Optional fasting: 16:8 intermittent or one water-fast day per week

Post-Journey:

• Continue the diet for 1–2 weeks

• Treat your body as sacred space for integration

• Stay off high-stimulus media or social noise

• Notice what your body truly wants—and what’s habit

Activity: Create Your Nourishment Plan

Use this in your journal or planner.

Reflect:

• What foods support clarity and comfort in my body?

• What substances do I want to reduce or pause?

• What’s one ritual (like tea, prayer, or silence) I can bring to my meals?

Prompts to complete:

• My ideal meal the night before: _________________________

• My last light meal before my journey: ___________________

Tape this to your fridge or keep it in sight as a gentle commitment.

Medical Considerations

Always consult your doctor before making major changes to your diet, especially if you:

• Take SSRIs, MAOIs, insulin, or heart/blood pressure meds

• Have a chronic condition (e.g. diabetes, eating disorder history, autoimmune conditions)

• Are pregnant or nursing

Psychedelics make your body more sensitive. Respect it like you would sacred ground.

More Resources

Books & Protocols:

• The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide by James Fadiman (diet section)

• Listening to Ayahuasca by Rachel Harris

• Cleansing the Doors of Perception by Huston Smith

Articles & Downloads:

• Sample meal plans (PDF)

• “Journey Day Nutrition: Science & Spirit” article

• Printable fridge checklist for 3-level prep

Apps & Tools:

• Insight Timer (for mindful eating meditations)

• Zero or Fastic (for optional fasting support)