These are two great questions. 

While fasting is often recommended, some people prefer to eat a light meal before a trip. Thats generally what we've found works best - it can be hard to focus on becoming one with the universe when you’re stomachs rumbling. 

The caveat with the recommendations below is our bodies respond differently to different foods so what we share might not be best for you. You know your body best. The key point is; being healthy in body and mind is important for a psychedelic experience.  The nature and quality of the experience can be optimized by being mindful of your set, setting, and nutrition. 

Bad trips aren't always controllable or predictable, but you can stack the deck in your favor so to speak, and nutrition can be one of the best tools for improving your outcomes.

Pre-Trip Meals

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, there are a few general guidelines to follow. First, avoid eating anything too greasy or fried. Heavy foods can make you feel sluggish and cause nausea. Secondly, avoid anything spicy or acidic, as these can also lead to an upset stomach.  Similarly, sugary foods can cause an energy crash, making it difficult to enjoy the trip.

The best things to eat are light, simple, and easily digestible. Fruits or vegetables are a great option. Since your stomach is going to work hard to break down the shrooms, giving it a gentle warm up meal can set your gears in motion.

Meals like a eggs and toast, fruit and yogurt, fresh or cooked vegetables, or drinks like natural juices and kombucha are great ways to give your body good, natural energy without over working the system. 

And be sure to drink plenty of water; dehydration can intensify the effects of the mushrooms and lead to an unpleasant experience. Electrolytes can be super helpful here; minerals and electrolytes can help us feel better and promote nerve activity, mood stability, and emotional health by driving a litany of general health optimizing factors.

Snacking while Tripping?

You may or may not feel like snacking during the trip, but if you do, there are many great options. Most people report that food isn’t really concern for most people while they’re coming up and peaking. But coming down, especially after a fasted trip, especially if you’ve been hiking, chatting, or moving,  means you’ll be hungry. 

Fruits, veggies, trail mix, or protein bars are great snacks. They’re easy to eat, easy on the most stomachs, full of goodness, taste great, and don’t dry out your mouth. The biggest thing to avoid is eating food that makes it hard to chew, swallow, or digest.When you’re tripping, you want to make things easy on you, and fruits, vegetables, and trail mix do just that.

What about supplements for psychedelic experiences?

There are a few natural supplements that can elevate the experience and help mitigate the potential side effects like anxiety,  and the comedown.

• Vitamin D - lack of vitamin D can aggravate depression and anxiety, so making sure you're not deficient can help ease side effects of a trip. It's pro-energy, pro-metabolic, and anti-stress. 
• Vitamin A - plays a key role in manufacturing the body’s anti-stress hormones.
• Vitamin K - works in synergy with D and A.  We can't store much in the body so supplementation is a good way to top up on demand. 
• Lion’s Mane - a powerhouse functional mushroom that can help with brain health, and one of the key ingredients in Mojo.
• Omega-3 fatty acids - Can be found in a variety of fish oils like cod liver oil and krill oil. A great boost for you overall health and has been shown to help with anxiety and depression. 
• Green Tea - packed full of antioxidants. A cup can help fight free radicals and protects against oxidative damage. It also contains caffeine and L-theanine (another key ingredient in Mojo) -  these stimulate dopamine and increase the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which helps lower anxiety. 
• Magnesium - deficiency can trigger depression, fatigue and nausea. 
• Prebiotics and probiotics - gut health is key for overall health. Prebiotics are a dietary plant fiber that feeds the “good” gut bacteria. Probiotics are microorganisms you can add to the good bacteria in your gut microbiome
• Folate -  a B-vitamin that plays a role in your body’s ability to synthesize serotonin and dopamine. If your body is underproducing these chemicals, it could negatively impact your psychedelic experience. 

For a full breakdown of supplements to use to prepare for and after a shroom trip, read this article. 

Final Thoughts

By following these simple tips, you can increase the chances that your shroom trip is a positive experience. The better you nourish yourself physically and mentally, the more you’re likely to benefit from a psychedelic journey.

Of course nutrition is only one part of the equation when it comes to how your body reacts to psychedelics. Set and setting,  being in a good frame of mind and a safe and comfortable environment, is hugely important. Mindfulness practice can be helpful -  take deep breaths with slow exhales to center yourself. 

If you're planning a trip and want some guidance on what the ideal dose is, check out our shroom dosage calculator and this handy guide. 

If you have questions like, how long does it take for shrooms to kick in? or how long do shrooms stay in your system? We've got you covered too. 

Interested in shrooms but want to dip your toe first? Check out our award winning bridge product, Mojo. 

"Our journey began when a group of curious individuals sought to reverse-engineer the reported effects of a psilocybin microdose. It took us from the forest floor to clinical trials, in search of an effective method of boosting energy, focus, clarity, and mood — and we finally cracked the code."

Our team developed a proprietary blend of functional mushrooms, herbs, adaptogens and roots that boost focus, energy and support mood. 

Backed by numerous studies, they taste great, are vegan, gluten-free, and contain no artificial flavors or colors.

Mojo recently won the product of the year at the Microdose awards, and have been featured in Vice, Cool Hunting, Business Insider and Forbes. 

Over 1 million gummies sold in the U.S since our launch in 2021 - we're proud to help our community think more clearly, be more productive and feel more connected.

If you want to sample Mojo, you can grab a FREE sample pack here.