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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 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 32 of 59, 1175 total comments)jackie68
(tuesday 22nd july) hi guys! i have really enjoyed reading your stories, i go see my councilor on sunday she is away in spain till friday but wen she missed my call she still took time to txt me which i thort was really nice of her so i think i picked a good councilor. i have got around 6 stone to lose and will be starting on the ss. i must say i have enjoyed readin from troopersue(so funny) and others hope you still write in ere wen i start mine, thats it for now and look forward to chatting to you all hopefully starting mine on monday 28th july, jackie x
posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pmKate
Thanks Carrie, I was thinking the same thing. Going to try and do ss for another week as I am on my period so I am really happy with loss of 8lb. So I reckon if I do ss I may lose more and then do a couple of shakes and low gi meal after to maintain. It is your bodies natural reaction to binge after as it is trying to store up food incase you go into 'famine mode' again. CHEEKY - I am with Carrie on the biscuits, I too would have eaten the packet and more (don't even mention Jaffa cakes!!!!) don't beat yourself up you have not failed - everyone keep going we will get there.
posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pmSophia
I am really enjoying reading everyones comments on this site - it makes the diet so much easier as you don't feel alone. I am doing SS and have lost 16lbs in 4 weeks which I am delighted at. I am usually very regular with my period though and have not had one as yet - anyone else found this on SS?
posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pmSurfhunny
CARRIE: I was a little bit worried about what happens when you're ready to come off CD, but your plan of losing an extra couple of lbs sounds great. I'm never going to let the weight all go back on, I've definitely learnt my lesson. I plan on trying to stay within 7lbs of my target weight, which I think is reasonable. I think everyone on here is amazing. Thanks for all your advice and support. Can't wait til I can get started (my counsellor is on hols for 2 weeks :-( ).
posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pmcarrie
CHEEKY: Two biscuits!? lol don't beat yourself up!! lol that is ok! you have done so so so well!! If i was you I would have eaten the whole pack after the inital two!! ha ha!! And you still lost 2llbs that week, so give yourself a pat on the back and carry on going cos you are doing so well!! I'm on my last 7llbs now to get to my target wieght, and it is soo hard to get it off! I have gone back to SS for this week cos I really just want it off!! KATE I think putting on 5llbs whilst off CD is actually really good! You have to expect to put on a bit when you come off it and so many people just put it all straight back on. I am going to maybe get a couple of pound below my target wieght just so that when I come off CD a bit more I wont get down hearted when I put on those inital couple of pounds, cos i know it will happen!! think this where a quite a few people go wrong, they put on a couple of pounds then just binge out and put it all on! xx
posted Jul 22nd, 2008 11:26 amlyn
HI Lynn yes i did find that in my week 4 i got really hungry again, i wondered if it was the bars or just me weird eh?
posted Jul 21st, 2008 5:09 pmJo
I've been on the diet for 4 days now and i have not even been weighed and i can feel the weight and water going, my shoes are looser, my hands are not as puffy, my skin is clearing up, i feel so relaxed. (have stoppped drinking coffee). not had any side affects really, no headaches as yet. I am predicting about 10lb weight loss when i get weighed Friday, wish me luck!!!!
posted Jul 21st, 2008 5:09 pmcheeky
hi guys hope your all havin a good week. i had aweek off from work last week it was nice to be away from work but hell for the diet. i didnt drink enough water, iwas on my period n i ate 2 biscuits which i was annoyed with myself , i got weighed on the friday and lost 2lbs and 2 inches aiming to to even better for my weigh in on sat. ive lost 44lbs in total and 28 inches in 10 weeks still got more to go. i'm getting in to clothes that i cudn't get in to and i feel so much better with the weight ive lost so far and my asthma has improved slightly. i'm still doing the 1000 kals for this week which im still enjoying!
posted Jul 21st, 2008 5:09 pmlubyloo
Just had my weigh n lost another 3lbs thats 24lbs in 6 weeks,now on 810 step so i am gonna enjoy a piece of grilled chicken 4 tea yummy!!!!
posted Jul 21st, 2008 5:09 pmrita
Hi all just found this site it is encouraging to read so many positive cemments , starting ss tomorrow have been on this diet before last year it worked for me then only did sole source for a couple of weeks felt it a bit antisocial so then did 2 soups and a no carb meal was much better combined it with the gym and i felt great ,,,, let my self go in the last 6 months and feel i have let myself down . well tmo will be day one and feeling quite excited i know what to expect so wish me luck will log on in few days to let you all know how im doing
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmKelly
Well in 45 minutes i have to go to class i havnt weighed in for 2 weeks so i reckon ive put loads of weight on...oh well i will keep u updated once i know - wish me luck :(
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmKate
Not posted a comment for a while, just been catching up with you all and welcome to new CD recruits. I have been off CD for a little over a month and have put on 5lb, in this time I also went on holiday - so do not think that was so bad! I do not feel guilty or that I have let myself down as I know that CD DOES work. Also nothing could beat the feeling of how great it was this year not to bother about covering up on the beach - I certainly flaunted it!!! I have been back on sole source for just under a week and have lost 8lb and 7 inches so far - extremely pleased -I do not have a lot to lose to my goal weight (10lb) so any of you flagging or needs a bit of support this should spur you on. I just needed the right frame of mind to get started again! I am now also thinking about how to manage maintenance when I get to goal, maybe 2 shakes and a healthy low GI meal to start - anyone any suggestions as to how they are maintaining or are we all striving to get to goal as yet!! Would welcome any help - TROOPERSUE - hope the bruising has gone, mine was getting quite bad but has now gone although when I bang myself it produces a larger bruise!! Well must go got to get myself a shake for tea (husband just ordered a chinese for himself - things we have to endure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmLynn
I am in week 4 of SS and feeling really hungry for the past 2 days. Not cheated once and drinking 4 litres of water per day - anyone else had this problem.
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmTLJ
Hi Guys I would just like to sa that when you are tempted to eat a good thing I try and do is distract my self with smething else and try and keep busy or go to bed slightly earlier than normal as I find my two main reasons for eating are boredom and stress if you keep busy you tend to forget about food for a while and before you know it is the next morning and you feel lighter! It seems to be working for me trying to see food as a minor thing in your life as apposite to the only thing you can think about!xxxx
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmtabithaduke
Hi everyone, I just thought id introduce myself, i`m Karen i`m going to start the diet on Monday(July 21 2008) i`m really nervous as usually the second I start a diet, all I want is food! I`m trying to lose weight for my wedding in November, I hope it comes off quickly, i`m 22 st 10lb and i`m sick of being this huge.
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmsuz
Hi peeps me again sorry...Q???? My first day...did anyone else pee for brittan???? dam...... its like my toilet is my bestest friend eva lol........ not number two's though lol.... ha
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmlyn
Hi just got weighed and have lost anouther 4lbs, so thats 19 in 4wks so i am really happy! anyway everyone keep up the good work.
posted Jul 20th, 2008 3:05 pmsuz
hi everyone..... just wanted to log in after my first day.... oh my days... i am so wanting sumfink that tastes nice..i aint even gonna write on here the foods that have been running through my mind...things i aint even had since i was like errr 10 lol ha! Just one Question - did anyone feel like the milkshakes were really sweet and the soups - well i think i will b living off chocolte milk shakes with hot water - dam lol! anyone got any tips for me!????? thanks ps - i havent cheated!!!!
posted Jul 18th, 2008 3:55 pmSurffhunny
JACKIE - thanks for that. I'll keep everyone informed about how I get on, I'm really excited about it. I've been doing Slimming World for the last 4 years and for at least the last 2 I've been stuck at 15st 7lb having lost just over 2st. I started to pile the weight on at uni - student life suited me too well. I'm used to being really fit and active so being this big has been really trying. I can't wait to start seeing my old body emerge from under all this blubber. xxx
posted Jul 18th, 2008 3:55 pmJackie
(18/7/2008 - 11:00am) Hi SURFHUNNY - Cambridge works in a different to LighterLife. LL is a group of people together, where as CD is one on one. So you should technically be able to start pretty quickly, subject to your counsellor wanting a form from your GP.
posted Jul 18th, 2008 6:56 am