Foods to Avoid Before a Drug Test the Ultimate Guide

Generally, you should avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, Dairy, Meats, Processed Foods, Sugar, and Wheat/Gluten before a drug test.

If you did not use drugs prior to the test but consumed food that contained a legal amount of coca or opium, traces of illicit illnesses could also be detected.

If you want to avoid the repercussions of testing positive but don’t have much time to look, read the list of foods to stay away from before a urine drug test below.

Foods to Avoid before a Drug Test

If you’re getting ready for a drug test, there are some foods you absolutely must avoid.

Alcohol

It would be harmful to consume alcohol while detoxing because alcohol is a toxin in and of itself. Alcohol not only raises the level of toxins in your body, but it also frequently heightens withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol can also dehydrate you and make you drowsy, lethargic, and nauseous. You don’t want to experience withdrawal symptoms and a hangover at the same time.

Caffeine

Caffeine, another substance that is technically toxic, should be avoided while detoxing. Caffeine, like alcohol, can make you more toxic.

While you’re experiencing the inevitable fatigue that comes with a cleanse, it may be very alluring to sip on some coffee or an energy drink. However, by doing so, you would be sacrificing long-term benefits in favor of immediate comfort.

Dairy

Acidic dairy products are hard on your digestive system’s cells, which are already working very hard. Dairy can also slow down your digestion and clog your system, which keeps toxins in your body for longer.

Meats

Meat is hard to digest and can clog your system, much like dairy. Meat sitting in your digestive system is a haven for dangerous bacteria, which will obstruct digestion and, consequently, your detox.

Processed Foods

Processed foods frequently have excessive chemical content, which raises your body’s toxin levels. They are also hard on your liver, which is a crucial detox organ that needs to be treated gently.

Sugar

We frequently consume sugar, another toxin, without giving it much thought, but while detoxing, it’s critical to decide to refrain from doing so. The beneficial bacteria in your digestive system that are essential for a successful detox are killed by sugar.

The severity of withdrawal symptoms, particularly fatigue and irritability, can also be exacerbated by sugar.

Sugar may appear to temporarily lessen those symptoms, but when the sugar rush wears off, you’ll feel worse than you did before.

Wheat/Gluten

Your digestive system is irritated by wheat and gluten, which reduces the capacity of your detoxification organs. Because wheat harms the lining of your intestines, they can also result in stomachaches and constipation.

Because of those injuries, you are unable to absorb vital nutrients, which are even more crucial during the detoxification process.

Foods to Avoid Before a Drug Test the Ultimate Guide
Foods to Avoid Before a Drug Test: the Ultimate Guide

What Can Cause a False Positive on a Drug Test Aside from Food?

Not just food and beverages can cause a drug test to fail. You might be experiencing discomfort because of some over-the-counter medications or even soap.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a popular NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that helps to lower inflammation, pain, and fever.

In rare cases—as shown in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Chemistry— there is a “small likelihood of a false-positive immunoassay test result for cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates after the acute or chronic ingestion of ibuprofen.

As a general rule, whenever a patient claims to be taking ibuprofen, additional screening tests should be performed.

Antibiotics

It has also been demonstrated that some antibiotics, including rifampin and fluoroquinolones, can result in a false positive on a drug test.

An opiate positive urine test resulted in the admission of a 7-year-old boy to the American University of Beirut Medical Center in a Lebanese case from 2002.

After a careful re-examination of the case, the medical team determined that “the interfering substance in this positive opiate screen was suspected to be rifampin.”

Cold Medication

How is it possible to fail a drug test without using drugs? Well, that depends on the kind of drug you’re talking about. The antihistamine you purchased from your neighborhood pharmacy when you were feeling under the weather may have resulted in a false positive even though you may not have abused any illegal drugs.

Common antihistamines such as levomethamphetamine (used in inhalers) and brompheniramine (cold and allergies) have been shown to be “mirror images” of methamphetamine. You run the risk of failing a drug test if you use the over-the-counter medicine.

Passive Weed Smoking

Being around marijuana smokers could cause you to fail a drug test, but this rarely happens. According to a study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, you would have to be locked in a room with no ventilation and sit next sit to a group of around 6 smokers to test positive for THC.

The researchers concluded, “These findings show that, at commonly used cutoff concentrations, even very high levels of cannabis smoke exposure can result in positive urine tests. However, positive tests are likely to be rare, limited to the hours immediately post-exposure, and occur only under environmental circumstances where exposure is obvious.”

Antiretroviral Medication

In a 2006 study appearing in the Journal of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, the researchers discovered that 100% of respondents who took THC was detected in the HIV medication Sustiva, which contains efavirenz.

Another similar study from 2009, in which 98% of participants who took efavirenz tested positive for marijuana and benzodiazepines, later confirmed these findings. The antiviral medication seems to affect the precision and operation of urine tests.

Baby Soap

The most unsuspecting offender—baby soap—tops the list of goods and foods that can result in false positive drug tests.

To quote a study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, “commonly used soap and wash products used for newborn and infant care as potential causes of false positive THC screening results.”

Aveeno Wash, Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash Shampoo, CVS Night-Time Baby Bath, J&J Bedtime Bath, and Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash are a few of the baby soaps that were noted in the study.

It’s also crucial to comprehend the possibility of false positives because a marijuana drug test result could result in accusations of child abuse or social services involvement.

Please take note that neither the effects of soaps nor those of marijuana imply that babies can become intoxicated.

Read about What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth?

Can You Eat Before a Drug Screening?

In short: Yes, generally you can eat before some types of drug screenings. The type of test you will be taking will determine how it works, though. While others don’t, some may call for you to fast.

You are permitted to consume food and liquids prior to a urinalysis. However, some foods can result in a false positive, so you should try to avoid them if you can.

Make sure you fast if instructed to do so in order to ensure the accuracy of the results of your drug test.

Foods to Eat During a Cleanse

Maintaining your hydration is the most beneficial thing your food can do for you while you are detoxing. Eat lots of vegetables with a high water content, like celery and cabbage, keeping this in mind. While many fruits, like grapefruit, are high in water, you should avoid those that are also high in sugar.

High-fiber foods are beneficial because they keep your digestive system functioning properly. The healthier alternative to wheat and gluten is whole grains like quinoa and brown rice.

If you must eat meat, limit yourself to lean cuts as they will be the simplest to digest. Along with lamb and poultry, cold-water fish is one of the safest options. Simply check that the fat has been removed from any meat you eat.

How to Dispute a False Positive on a Drug Test?

It’s crucial to learn how to challenge a false positive drug test if you were the victim of the aforementioned foods.

Requesting additional tests for confirmation is the first step to take if you are certain that you haven’t used any illegal drugs or alcohol as implied by the false positive drug test results. To verify the findings, this frequently calls for blood testing.

Simple blood tests may be able to demonstrate your innocence in alcohol tests since alcohol from food rarely makes it into the bloodstream.

Advanced tests like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC test) or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS test) are used to detect other substances like ibuprofen and cold medications. These tests distinguish between the components in your urine sample and mark them to look for any potential interference.

You might be able to save your job or even get out of trouble if you can successfully contest a false positive drug test.

What If You Failed the Drug Test?

Sometimes the outcomes are unrelated to the foods that produce false positive drug tests. They might be sincere if there is no interference. This could be a sign of a drug and alcohol problem that requires help from professionals.

A complex illness, addiction affects not only the addict but also those close to him or her, including family members. Substance abuse may have consequences that go far beyond just a negative drug test result. It’s important to remember that drug dependency is frequently a gradual process that sets in gradually until you lose control.

It is always advisable to seek professional assistance if you are struggling with addiction and it is never too late to regain control of your life.

FAQs

What Can Affect Urine Samples?

Your urine sample may change depending on what you eat. Some ingredients that you can find in a nearby grocery store can both be harmful and beneficial.

Before you get tested, you should also take into account some additional factors like dehydration, medications, and exercise.

What Should I Eat before a Urine Drug Test?

Try to eat a healthy meal prior to going to the lab. The metabolism is slowed down and the body retains water by eating a poor diet high in salt and sugar. Utilize as many items high in fiber and vitamins (such as fruits, vegetables, and premium meat) as you can before the test.

What Foods Should I Stop Consuming 24 Hours before the Urine Drug Test?

Foods with a lot of salt and vanilla should be avoided for at least 24 hours prior to the pee sample testing. Vitamins, coffee, and alcoholic beverages shouldn’t be consumed if you want good results.

Should I Fast before the Medical Test?

You should fast before the medical exam, of course. For at least eight hours, try to avoid eating or drinking anything.

Conclusion

Avoid ingredients that may raise questions about whether you have opiates in your system, depending on your health. For instance, marijuana takes a long time to leave your system, so plan your meals at least two days in advance if you want to pass the test.

Take your time and try to think of two things: “do’ and don’ts.” You may even be asked to return and provide another sample if the lab detects anything suspicious during the drug test that is used to check your health conditions. If you like your job and don’t want to lose it, search for “do’s” only and try not to fail.

If you have to take a urine drug test and you don’t want to be found out to be using opiates, get ready early and look up foods to steer clear of.