Tyramine diet for ayahuasca ceremony

@ayahuska 

Posted by: @ayahuska

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Is it sufficient to follow the tyramine diet for a week before I participate in the ayahuasca ceremony?

Yes, a week is long enough. Typically, the tyramine diet is recommended to be followed for 3 days up to and including 2 days after the ayahuasca ceremony. This diet restricts the intake of tyramine-rich foods to reduce the risk of potential dangerous interactions.

When you are not following a diet and the concentration of tyramine is too high in combination with MAO inhibitors, such as those in ayahuasca, This can lead to a dangerous increase in blood pressure. This can result in symptoms such as stabbing headaches and, in severe cases, even a brain hemorrhage. Tyramine is a substance that occurs naturally in various foods, and the use of MAO inhibitors inhibits the breakdown of tyramine in the body. As a result, the concentration of tyramine in the blood can rise, which entails the aforementioned health risks. To avoid these risks, it is essential to follow a low-tyramine diet in the days prior to drinking ayahuasca.

What can't you eat then?

Tyramine is found in various foods, especially in products that are rich in protein and that have been aged, fermented, or processed in other ways. Here are some examples of products in which tyramine may be present:

- Dairy products: Aged cheese, blue cheeses, unpasteurized milk, yogurt, buttermilk, crème fraîche.

- Meat and fish: Smoked or raw meat, sliced meats, shellfish, and canned fish.

- Fermented products: Sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented foods.

- Drinks: Alcoholic beverages such as red wine and beer.

- Bread: Sourdough bread.

- Soy products: Tempeh, soy sauce, fish sauce, Tamari, and Worcestershire sauce.

Other products you also should not take due to their blood pressure-raising effect are:

- Herbs and spices: Licorice and St. John's wort.

- Sweets: Products with licorice and liquorice.

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