User rating
Keep up with Diets in Review
Get Weekly Email Updates (sample)
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our RSS
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Follow us on Pinterest
Home 
Diets
Calorie Counting
How Does
Cambridge Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Cambridge Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
Cambridge Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
Top Rated Diets of 2024What is it?
The Cambridge Diet is a weight loss program offering pre-packed meals, counseling, and low calorie meal suggestions. It’s considered a VLCD, which means it’s a very low calorie diet.
One can select between 415 to 1500 calories depending on one’s weight loss goals, gender, and tolerance. Consultants are offered not just to guide, but to recommend what calorie limit one should follow. There have been numerous diets observed by our experts, and the highest rated one has been the 18Shake Diet. It offers a diet pill and meal replacement shakes that aim to reduce appetite for hours, all while providing fat burning effects with its all natural ingredients. More information about the 18Shake Diet can be seen in the link here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
Cambridge DietIngredients and Side Effects
Here are some noteworthy ingredients added to their prepackaged foods:
|
Skimmed Milk Powder |
Maltodextrin |
Guar Gum |
Refined Fractionated Palm Oil |
Acesulfame K |
|
Sucralose |
Carrageenan |
Flavourings |
Dried Glucose Syrup |
Silicon Dioxide |
|
Oligofructose |
|
|||
Guar Gum:Fiber extract taken from the guar plant. It’s used as a general thickener in processed foods, as well as a laxative. It can promote side effects that include:
• Diarrhea, gas, and loose stools.
• Indigestion, nausea, and stomach pains.
Acesulfame K: Artificial sweetener around 200 times sweeter than standard sugar. A study by PLOS One found that:
“Long-Term Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame Potassium Alters Neurometabolic Functions”
This study showed that in mice there was an effect on insulin and leptin levels. The same study added:
“chronic use… could affect cognitive functions, potentially via altering neuro-metabolic functions”
It also has shown the potential for other side effects according to a review by the Oxford Journals:
“long-dated function on the adult’s sweet preference”
This study was conducted on mice that were given their mother’s breast milk or amniotic fluid in birth, and their preference for sweets changed.
Sucralose: Artificialsweetener that can be around 1,000 times much sweeter than sugar. It has been used controversially since some studies have shown it to be potentially dangerous. One such study was performed by Duke University and it revealed:
“numerous adverse effects”
“reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, increased fecal pH, and enhancedexpression levels of P-gp”
This means the body considers it a toxin, and it reduces healthy bacteria which helps support the immune system according to this clinical study.
Carrageenan: Thickener and binder extractedfrom red seaweed.The University of Iowa ran a study which showed:
“carcinogenic properties of degraded carrageenan”
“ulcerations and neoplasms in association with exposure to carrageenan”
This has shown the possibility for causing serious issues in the body.
The link provided here has the top 10 ranked diets of the year.
The types of foods offered by the Cambridge Diet are meal replacement shakes, bars, pasta, rice, soups, desserts, and other snacks. According to the official website:
“products contain the vitamins and minerals you need for balanced nutrition and healthy weight loss”
Most of what one eats will be the prepackaged foods. This can make it easier to handle a caloric loss, as the foods are specially formulated to be lower in calories. There are also 6 steps outlined one must follow, though where one begins depends on what the counselor advises. Here are the steps:
• Sole Source: 3 to 4 prepackaged foods are eaten a day. The Sole Source Plus option allows for 3 prepacked goods alongside meal of 200 calories, or 4 of the companies meals with 200 ml of skimmed milk.
• 2nd Stage: Protein rich meals are added as well as some skimmed milk and vegetables alongside up o Cambridge meals. It’s typically limited to 810 calories a day for a week long period.
• 3rd Stage: 2 of the meals, some milk, and a 1,000 calorie a day limit. This is enforced for 2 weeks.
• 4th Stage: 2 prepackaged meals, some skimmed milk, and more regular meals.
• 5th Stage: One Cambridge meal and breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner for a total of 1500 calories.
• 6th Stage: Once your heathy weight is reached, this stage helps maintain results. One prepackaged meal a day is recommended alongside continued support from a consultant.
It’s unclear whether or not the consultants have any background in diet and nutrition. It’s unlikely however that they use real certified dieticians, which can be potentially dangerous or lead to wrong advice. Our experts have analyzed many diets and have ranked the top 10 in the list here.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Cambridge Diet Quality of Ingredients
Since the beginning of the program asks for a majority of foods to be selected from the company’s prepackaged foods, it’s important for the ingredients to be wholesome.
Unfortunately, they use artificial sweeteners and cheap thickeners often used to replace fiber. These kinds of additives can actually make weight loss harder, as studies have shown they may cause metabolism disorders as well as other side effects.
It’s also difficult to understand what kind of help is provided by the counselors, which remains to be seen whether or not they are actually certified to give health and nutrition advice. The link provided here has a list of the highest rated diets.
A review on the Cambridge Diet was performed by the British Dietetic Association, and they have listed possible side effects which include:
“bad breathe, a dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, and constipation”
They also advise for medical support when a person is to receive less than 600 calories, which some plans offered by the company suggest only 450 calories a day. It’s unclear if the counselors offer any support for this type of reduction in calories.
The Price and Quality of Cambridge Diet
The price depends more on how often once decides to use the prepackaged meals. The official website states it will cost per week 48.30 pounds, which rounds to a weekly price of $63.46. Since this is a UK based plan, no consultations are available outside the US. In fact, on the official site there is a map where support and availability is offered, and there are no listings for the US.
The quality of meals is poor, as the additives included are often found in processed foods. It can also be expensive to have to keep using the company’s foods, as the final stage of maintenance requires one pre-packaged meal a day.
Business of Cambridge Diet
The contact information for the diet is as follows:
Phone Number: (44)(0) 1536 403344
Address:Stafford House, 10 Brakey Road
Corby, Northants, NN17 5LU
Email: [email protected]
The official website lists how to become a paid consultant for the company. Nowhere in the job skills is there any notice for people to have a background in health and nutrition. The company only asks for people with a background in sales who are organized and can plan ahead.
This means that it’s likely the people who are meant to give support have no skills in helping people with weight loss. The link cited here has the top 10 ranked diets.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Cambridge Diet
Here are some direct quotes from user reviews:
“not the best diet health wise… nails went brittle thin, hair began to thin rapidly”
“never felt full, I always felt hungry”
“Having a bad time with motivation”
“the first few days are the hardest”
Though there were some weight loss results for people, there were also issues due to a lack of calories. Many felt weakened, less energetic, and much more fatigued than usual.
Some also had symptoms that are clear signs of nutrient deficiencies such as brittle and weak nails, thin hair, and increased stress. This was often the case for people who attempted this diet.
The top 10 ranked diet plans can be seeninthe link provided here.
Conclusion - Does Cambridge DietWork?
The Cambridge Diet is similar to other diet plans which offer pre-packaged foods. There’s also counseling offered, but it’s clear that the support is from people who are more business people rather than nutrition experts. Many of the foods offered have processed ingredients, though they are low in calories. Reviews have been mixed with some experiencing health issues and hunger. Though a low calorie plan like this can work, any reduction in calories can result in weight loss. There’s nothing special added to the prepackaged foods which isn’t found in a standard processed meal.
Our experts have performed many reviews and have discovered that the most effective diet is the 18Shake Diet. It provides a combination of a meal replacement and a diet pill. They both provide only natural ingredients, no stimulants, and no unwanted artificial or additives. Its effects include appetite suppression, increased fat burning, and more. When used together it enhances weight loss at a faster rate. Customers have also left positive testimonials on the official website.
The 18Shake Diet is also supported by a full 30 day money back guarantee. This allows for people to try this product risk free, and with no questions asked. More information about the specifics of the 18Shake Diet is available here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
- High Protein Diet
- 91/100
-
-
- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
-
-
- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
-
- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
-
- Cambridge Diet
- 35 /100
-
-
BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
With new diets hitting the market faster than we can lose a pound, it is not too often that you stumble upon a diet that has been around for more than 20 years. The Cambridge Diet has proudly clocked some years under its svelte belt. Developed in the 80s, it still enjoys a very loyal and passionate audience of dieters who have been successful at losing weight and keeping it off.
It is a liquid diet program that involves drinking 3 servings of the signature Cambridge Diet formula each day with or without food. The three servings provide you with protein (either 30 or 50 grams), carbohydrates, fat, fiber and your daily-required vitamin and mineral allowances.
About ten years ago, the Cambridge Diet added an additional product to their 330 Original Product. The 420 Food for Life product contains 100% of the required daily protein needs in 3 servings whereas the 330 Product contains 75% of the required protein. The protein source comes from whey and soy. Both of them are nutritional supplements that do not contain drugs, medicine, stimulants or herbs.
There are four ways for you to follow the Cambridge Diet: - The Fast Track: Consume 3-4 servings of Cambridge a day and no additional food. - The Alternate Program: Use 3-4 servings of Cambridge for one day with no food and then the following day, consume 3 servings of Cambridge with the addition of 400-800 calories of low fat, low calorie health food. Continue to alternate in this manner. - The Regular Program: Eat 3 servings of Cambridge 15- 20 minutes prior to each low calorie meal. Calories should not exceed 400-800 for the entire day. - The Regular Program 2: Consume 3 servings of Cambridge and eat one meal of low calorie food each day. Calories should not exceed 400- 800 calories for the entire day.
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
PRO
- Cambridge Diet contains all the essential nutrients
- Has a proven success rate
- Safe for diabetics and those with high blood pressure
CON
- Its limited consumption of food may incite excessive eating
- May be too calorically-restrictive for some individuals
- Does not teach you to eat in a healthy and long-term way
- Long-term weight loss may not be sustained
- Calories might be too restrictive for exercise
DIET and NUTRITION
The foundation of the Cambridge Diet is its signature line of shakes. They come in an array of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, eggnog, strawberry, cappuccino, banana cream and many more. The shakes come in two styles: The Original and the Food for Life.
The Food for Life product contains 51 grams of protein, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat and 140 calories per shake. It also includes 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals. The Original contains 31 grams of protein and contains about 110 calories per shake.
There is also a line of additional Cambridge products like soups, nutrition bars, and super oats.
When taken the prescribed three times a day, you'll only consume 420 calories. If you select to follow a plan that allows for food, you should not consume anymore than an additional 800 calories a day and these calories should come from low-calorie and low-fat foods like vegetables and lean proteins. If you are on the smaller side, it is recommended that you only consume an additional 400 calories on top of the 420 calories for the Cambridge products.
You are also strongly encouraged to drink at least 3-4 liters of water each day.
EXERCISE
Since the Cambridge Diet is so restrictive, exercise should be done cautiously. It is not recommended to start a new strenuous exercise program while on the Cambridge Diet. Moderate exercise like walking or biking is useful once you start to lose weight, providing that it is approached with caution and not done with excess.
CONCLUSION
There is no question that The Cambridge Diet has been around for a long time. And in the process, many have had luck losing weight by following its strict dietary regimen. Since the diet is so low in calories, check with your doctor before starting it, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
The Cambridge Diet devotees swear by the diet's ability to help them lose weight as long as the program is followed correctly. But like most diets that rely on shakes or supplements to shed pounds, its potential for long-term weight loss and for instilling sound and healthy eating habits in you is not that promising.
Common Misspellings
cambrdge Diet, cambradge diet, cambridge deit, camebridge diet, cambridge liquid diet, cambridgediet.com
Featured Diets and Supplements
Cambridge Diet?
User Feedback
(Page 13 of 59, 1175 total comments)jane
+hi fiona K: i have approximately 8 stone to loose. i have been on the cd since may of last year, and have currently lost 6 stone. I have achieved this by having two of the tetra pak shakes a day, and then a meal on the night - usually consisting of fish/chicken with salad/vegetables. This way, i am still able to socialise with friends and family, and dont feel i am missig out on anything. I have had two holidays abroad at "all inclusives" during my diet, and of course Christmas. Each time, i have put on a little weight, but have soon got back onto the diet.
posted Feb 7th, 2009 4:15 pmI cannot tell you how better I feel in myself - not just when i look in the mirror but healthwise too. My doctor always told me i needed to excercise - walk, etc, but at my previous weight i was unable to do so. Just after xmas, i treated myself to an i-pod, and now there is no stopping me!! Walking today with the snow on the ground, and the (weak) sun on my face has been fantastic - whereas before i would have taken the car 100 yards down the road.
Hopefully, i have changed my eating habits, and along with the fantastic support of my councillor i will not only be able to reach my goal, but also maintain my weight loss permanently.
Hopefully i have given you some incentive, dont give up - you really are worth it!!
aqsa
Hi,
posted Feb 6th, 2009 6:19 amCan any one help?I am on CD for more than 3 weeks and i just lost 2kg,which is not best resulat.I am going gym 3 times in week and doing 40 mint session.I am very disappionted today that i only lost 2 kgs.I am going on holdays from 1 april and i have only 7 weeks.I want to loose 3.5 stones by end of march.Please help me.you can send me suggestion on. is there any one who loose 3.5 stones in 7 weeks.Is it good to carry on the gym session?
please helpppppppppppp
Fiona K
I just started CD on Tuesday so now finished my second day. I am struggling. Sore head, bad breathe, feeling very lathargic.
posted Feb 4th, 2009 6:20 pmI knew this would be hard but god. Its Tough. I need to lose at lease 6-7 stone. I didnt like the porridge and the shakes aren't the best. So i am restricted to 2 soups and a bar a day. I am scared that i get so bored with them.
Can anyone give me advise.
Sweety
-i've been on the SS CD for 11day's now... the first 7day's were awful, i started the diet on a saturday and due to shree determination the 1st aturday was fine... but the 1after was awful and i just gave in... i supplemented 1off the shakes for a healthy meal (fish and salad) i went to my weigh in the nx day and i must say ... the meal i had the night before didn't make a differnce at all... i still lost 5lbs... so i haven't been absolutely loyal to the CD but a heatly meal does not go astray...
posted Feb 4th, 2009 7:22 amI also feel this diet feel's like you phisically starve yourself... any1 who stop's eating and just has a calorie intake of less then 400kl per day is obviously going to loose weight... so CD or no CD this is common sense... the CD is just soooooo expensive... what happens once u start to eat... obviously ur gonna put the weight gradually back on...
so is is worth paying all this money for it... or would u rather opt for the cereal diet??? i would say any food intake at less then 400kl /day would make u loose weight...
so overall i really don't think this is a good diet at all... afterall just starve ur self or have 3cereal bowl's a day - this work's the same way !!! and alot cheaper (",)
amanda
+Fantastic for good fast weight loss but requires extreme determination and willpower
posted Feb 2nd, 2009 4:20 pmaqsa
Hi,
posted Feb 2nd, 2009 12:05 pmI heard that if some one is on sole source programe and use tea with lemon or use leamon peace in tea then it can negate the diet effect on your body.I am on CD and drink 2 cup of green tea with lemon.Is it safe to drink or i should stop.
Monica
+Thanks Kathryn,
posted Jan 22nd, 2009 7:13 amI will definitely try next month .. cravings have now gone (even though monthly has not arrived :( ) but I feel much better. I got weighed at this week (but not my counsellor) and I'd lost 3½ lbs so I must be doing something right .. :)
I will continue with more determination now ..
Keep up the good work people ..
Gazala Khan
I have done this deit for 6weeks almost lost 2stones its very hard but yo do get on with it as the results are excellent.
posted Jan 21st, 2009 1:12 pmcallim
+had a good day today...saw my counsillor for the first time since christmas and i was pleased and rather surprised that i had only put on half of the weight that i thought i had..makes me feel better....which sounds strange but it could have been so much more...
posted Jan 20th, 2009 12:05 pmcallim
i had complete midset on thurs.....then it all went to pot on friday.....
posted Jan 18th, 2009 12:12 pmmy friend had invited me over for dinner and said that she was cooking tandoori ring and salad which was great....until i got there and she had made curry with all the works....naan bread...pakoras..and dessert....i felt awful...i could n't say no as she had gone to all the trouble to make it.....
saturday was eating out for my son's birthday...so i knew that that would be a 'go with the flow'......
i was all for starting again this morning...then cravings set in and i had to give in...
i so need to lose this weight and i can't seem to get off the starting blocks again....
anyway i have bagged up all my clothes that don't fit me at the moment and put them away and will get them out in 12 weeks time and hope that they are fitting or too big....
sorry for the moan...but i feel better know..thanks..xxx
Kathryn Eatough
+Hi all,
posted Jan 18th, 2009 10:54 amI have completed 1st week - not been too hard!! 3rd evening could have eaten a scabby cat!, then the feeling good and energy kicked in. I have lost 9lb and for next week will incorporate a light healthy meal early evening.
I have a problem that on Saturday night we are all going to an Indian - that is spurring me on - and am worried that it may make me ill after just doing sole source and add a meal. Anyone any ideas? I aim to immediately go back to the shakes to reduce any damage.
We have to live our lives and learn to incorporate these events so I do not feel guilty but don't want to be ill.
MONICA - Your doing really well and I have the same problem each month.
I find that if I allow for this and not beat myself up it really helps. At this time your body is craving carbohydrates and magnesium. I have some chicken and pasta/rice and an oat based cereal (porridge, ready brek) or wheetabix. You will not be doing any damage and it makes you less likely to want take-away and junk food. You will gain weight anyway but you will be managing it.
Give it a try as I know we are all different and keep going.
Here's to another good week for us all - Spring and summer just around the corner (we hope!)
babsmorag
i dont think its possible to lose 2 stone in 2 weeks unless you are ill but you can lost over a stone, i'm getting abit bored today its saturday again and it always makes me want to go out for a nice dinner and wine but i'm forcing myself to look at websites full of swim wear and party dresses for summer to avoid me checking the fridge out !!! its hard going
posted Jan 17th, 2009 11:47 amaqsa
Hi,
posted Jan 16th, 2009 8:26 ami joined CD on 15th jan and i want to loose 2 tone or 10kg in 2 week.is it possible with this diet.please write me if you lost 2 stones in 2 weeks.
Monica
+I could kick myself!!!
posted Jan 16th, 2009 6:57 amI have lost 1 stone 2 lbs since starting in November BUT my problem is my monthly cycle. I know it's coming and YET when my cravings kick in I just give into them!!! I just eat take aways all week (but I make sure I go to the gym to counteract it). I know I can do this and soooo want to lose the weight but feel as if each time I make progress I take two steps back.
I know I've written about this before but damn no matter how many times I tell myself I shouldnt eat the junk, I still do, it's as if I have two voices in my head.
I need to be tied to the house for a week each month without any money to stop me buying the rubbish!!!
phewww .. rant over!!
sarahd
+Hi all on begining week 2 now feel loads better still a bit tired but you cant have it all! lost 15lb so far so alls good...but still very hungry but just tryin to focus on end result well done all xx
posted Jan 14th, 2009 9:14 ambabsmorag
had first weight in lost 10 lb which is great, feel loads better and am even excited about the flavoured water this week !!! good luck to everyone the first week was NOT easy but stuck to it and it paid off
posted Jan 13th, 2009 5:33 pmchubbychops
Hello everyone Ready to start with this tomorrow, plan to loose five stone by the summer. I am sure it will be hard but worth it. I am sure there are risks but all are bodies are different but at the rate I am going i am eating myself into bad healthy anyway. Here to a slimmer year for all of us. Good luck....keep going it will be worth it as no food is worth it xx
posted Jan 13th, 2009 2:58 pmloopy lau
+Hi all,
posted Jan 13th, 2009 8:46 amI have done this diet before and lost just under 2 stone, but over the christmas period gave up and gained 6 lbs!!! (Not bad for 13 wks off the plan i thought) But.... Am now back on it and on day 2! Im not finding it as hard as the first time, but still thinking of naughty food, specially in the evenings! Ahhhhh! But... fingers crossed this time around i wil lstick to it and get to my goal!!!! First weigh in on Friday - i will update u all!
Keep up the good work all!
Loopy lau x
Teresa
+Great product!! Stands apart from all other diet products that I've tried (I take it with small healthy meals) - I feel better on this and lose weight better than on anything else.
posted Jan 12th, 2009 1:50 pmbabsmorag
although really unfortunate about the gall bladder story there is little evidence to say this diet is connected so people should not get in to a panic , the gall bladder stores bile which is needed to digest fat and the most common cause if obesity and high cholesterol of which most of us are trying to reduce. Women are more prone especially id they take a contraceptive pill or have bowel disorders obviously you must always review with your GP if you have any concerns but hopefully most people would have improved gall bladder function when the weight is lost and maintainance is started ...No offence to the previous reviewer hope you ok and have no complications with surgery
posted Jan 12th, 2009 4:11 am