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Home 
Diets
Calorie Counting
How Does
Cambridge Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
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PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Cambridge Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
Cambridge Diet Review (UPDATED 2025): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.
Top Rated Diets of 2025What 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 2025?
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
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- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
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- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
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- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
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- Cambridge Diet
- 35 /100
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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 2025?
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 19 of 59, 1175 total comments)faith
+Hey lynsey.....I also have xmas and my birthday 3 days after so know how ya feeling. I've set myself mini goals, and will do ss plus xmas week then back to ss in new year. you can do it....the first week is the worse once ya over that and see the loss you've manage that will make ya wanna keep going.Also sparkling water is good for nite oout and you don't wake up with the hangover lol
posted Nov 4th, 2008 4:49 pmtrish
+thanks Faith for the help with the ketostick. I'm back on track now and haven't cheated, hopefully the lbs will drop off this week!
posted Nov 4th, 2008 11:49 amlynsey
+hi everybody, this is day 2 for me.. i have 5 stone to lose.. seems so far away i keep wondering can i stick to this for that long. i really want to do this though so any inspiration would be much appreciated. i have my birthday in 2 weeks and xmas so not sure what im going to do as i dont want to just stay in on my birthday etc. anyway well done everyone who is sticking with it and the reviews are helping me x
posted Nov 4th, 2008 4:21 amcalli
+i have just started back on the diet after being on holiday for just over a week..boy am i soooooo glad to get back on it....i have had a nasty breakout of spots and i have never suffered such a bad breakout before..plus i need to kick the carbs again as they are making me feel like crap...(can i say that word?)....feel tired all the time and have the most horrendous reflux and wind....didn't know until last couple of days how much i like this way of eating....food is the devil and i can do without it........here's to onward and downwards.(weight that is!)
posted Nov 4th, 2008 2:32 amFaith
+before I start TRISH the Ketostick should be the Faible or Moyen colour on the chart..too light means ya had too much carbs and too dark means ya not drininking enough water...hope that helps.
posted Nov 3rd, 2008 12:55 pmI am back on this diet having had a break as caught a virus so had to come off it, its tough work, not easy to tell ya work colleagues you don't want to go out for lunch etc, but the results are SOOOOOOO worth it. Have to admit i struggle drinking all the water the most on this diet, but do manage it, but highly recommend it to everyone who can't do the whole counting points, calories etc.
Good luck everyone
Emma
+Would just like to say thanks to all the inspiring stories. This is my first day and belive me i need the help. I'd done Lighterlife before and lost 3st in three months but it's harder the second time around.
posted Nov 3rd, 2008 9:43 amWell done everyone!
Donna
+Tracy-Anne-
posted Nov 1st, 2008 10:33 pmThis is NOT an easy diet- it is difficult and as little as the cheats are...they do effect the weight loss. 1/2 a sausage is not a little cheat either....sausages are awesome but, they are the devil! :) The worst thing you can do is get discouraged- when I first started I only lost 3lbs the first week and then 5lbs the next week...and I DID NOT cheat at all. I started with a friend who lost a stone and a half in the first 2 weeks!!! I was also starving but found that the mousse REALLY filled me up. I'd make one for breakfast and it made a world of difference. I also added the fibre to my morning mousse- again, making a huge difference. If you feel hungry then stay away from the drink boxes- they don't do anything for me and I have the hardest days when I drink them. As for increasing the weight loss- avoid the bars and add a daily walk (nothing crazy, just a nice walk/hike).
I started the diet in August weighing 181 lbs and as of today, I weigh 159 lbs! This is 'slow' progess BUT I'm thrilled. I tested the diet to see if I would put the weight back on (went on a 2 week holiday and trust me....ate and drank loads!!) AND....didn't gain at all! When I got back from holiday I went straight back to sole source....3 days later, got weighed and was delighted with the results! I actually lost 2.5lbs!!!
Let's face it- this isn't an 'easy' diet BUT, it does work. Stay positive! If I can do this...then you for sure can! My goal is to be 140lbs by christmas.....wish me luck!
Donna
RB
+Ive just come back from my first weigh in.. I lost 7lbs and 6oz and more than a few inches!
posted Nov 1st, 2008 9:52 amAlthough the diet is a little unsociable, its definatly worth it. I cant wait for next weeks weigh in now.
hope to be two sone lighter by the end of december.. fingers crossed.
trisha
+trying hard not to cheat today
posted Oct 31st, 2008 3:33 amtrish
+does anyone know what colour the ketostix shiukd be when you enter ketotis ? I keeo checking and mine only seem to show 0.05 traces, shouldot be light or is it the darker the better? been on the diet for 7 weeks and lost nearly 2 stone , but the last few weeks cheated a little bit , nothng major, just tiny tastes of the family meal, keep promising myself i won't cheat tomorrow, not put any weight back on, and still losing but only 1.5 lb or so a week. if anyone knows about the ketostix please advise.
posted Oct 30th, 2008 3:51 pmgaynor
+forgot to mention - have lost a total of 21 inches on this diet
posted Oct 30th, 2008 2:51 pmgaynor
+I have been on this diet for 9.5 weeks now. First 2 weeks lost 16lb - do not cheat (even half a sausage) and it will work for you. I have now lost 3 stone in total - aiming for 5 stone. Had my first meal tonight - chicken and green veg - feel great and love my new look. You need to be motivated to succeed on this diet - I have 3 kids and, even though they eat all the noce stuff, I have not cheated - want to shift this weight. I can have a little bit of what I fancy once all the weight has come off. Will never not eat choc or pizza again but I know it needs to be in moderation. If I can survive and feel good on this low cal diet then surely my body did not need all that rubbish in the first place. Stay positive and don't cheat!! - you will only be cheating yourself. It was eating all the c..p that got you here in the first place
posted Oct 30th, 2008 2:37 pmgaynor
+I have been on this diet for 9.5 weeks now. First 2 weeks lost 16lb - do not cheat (even half a sausage) and it will work for you. I have now lost 3 stone in total - aiming for 5 stone. Had my first meal tonight - chicken and green veg - feel great and love my new look. You need to be motivated to succeed on this diet - I have 3 kids and, even though they eat all the noce stuff, I have not cheated - want to shift this weight. I can have a little bit of what I fancy once all the weight has come off. Will never not eat choc or pizza again but I know it needs to be in moderation. If I can survive and feel good on this low cal diet then surely my body did not need all that rubbish in the first place. Stay positive and don't cheat!! - you will only be cheating yourself. It was eating all the c..p that got you here in the first place
posted Oct 30th, 2008 2:32 pmTracy-Anne
+These are all very inspiring -it's odd tthat I cannot find a person that says something negative. I have been on the diet for almost 3 weeks now with some tiny cheats here and there and by tiny i mean half a sausage or half a can of tuna if I am feeling starving. I am also drinking all my water. I have only lost 5.5 lb after 3 weeks of sheer starvation. How is this possible. Given I am not obese, but I am 3 stone over weight. This is frustrating the living daylights out of me. Can anyone relate or adviseplease!!!
posted Oct 30th, 2008 3:52 ammaggiemay
+DAY 5
posted Oct 28th, 2008 6:05 pmFeel okay, no headaches, a bit of back ache, but drank more water and am okay now.
Put my order in for next week, was looking forward to bars, did`nt realise had to wait till week 3, never mind.
cant wait till Thursday to be weighed, have lost 1" off waist. Good Luck everyone
BB
+Just started - day 2
posted Oct 28th, 2008 1:39 pmContemplating eating my computer and keyboard, right now!!!!
Have been successful before on CD losing 20lb.
Finding feeding the kids brutal
ruth
+Hi there just going into my third week had my second weigh in today and i have lost 1 stone and all together i have lost 5 inch's off my waist well pleased all in 2 weeks. well done to everyone else stick to it we will all be able to fit in that nice dress for chrismas and new year i have another 4 stone to loose hope i can do most of it by then,,,
posted Oct 28th, 2008 11:34 amChrissie
+Second Weigh-In
posted Oct 28th, 2008 4:11 amI have just completed my second week
and have lost a further 4lb. I have lost 7lb in two weeks.
My inch loss is still going ok. I did not lose anything off my chest and hips but lost 2" off my waist.
As long as I keep losing lbs or inches each week, its keeping me motivated
maggiemay
+Day 4
posted Oct 27th, 2008 2:29 pmOops missed day 3 was so busy all day, didnt miss food and no headaches.
Feel fine, thought of food a bit today, but have kept busy, I cant wait for Thursday for weigh in. Getting up a lot in night for a pee, but thats not too much of a problem. roll on day 5
Good Luck everyone.
vicky
+Hi Guys...
posted Oct 27th, 2008 9:42 amWell i'm on my 9th week now and have to say for the first 4 weeks i was strick and to the book i didnt cheat once and lost 2 stone.
Now i know some people will be quite annoyed with me for saying this but the last month i have cheated quite a bit and took 8 days off and have still had constant losses week after week.
My total on my last weigh in on saturday was 3 stone in 8 weeks and i feel amazing. This is the best and, for me, easiest diet i hve ever been on. I have cut out the soups now as they started to make me feel a bit ill but and still going strong with my shakes.
Keep strong people, its all worth it
Vicky x