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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
-
- 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 35 of 59, 1175 total comments)alana
Hey Guys:)started CD diet 5 days ago and today i caved in and had something eat i feel like i have let myself down,this is soooooooooo hard!!!!!!x
posted Jul 11th, 2008 3:26 pmlooniesammie
thanks , i feel a little better this morning, my head still feels a little woozy, but im not hungry , just keep thinking of food, but got glass of water next to me lol, just hope i start to feel better soon x
posted Jul 10th, 2008 9:11 amLotty
Hi LOONIESAMMIE, it is normal to feel how you feel at first. I'm on day 5 now and days 3 and 4 were horrid. I had a "can't move my head headache" and kept going dizzy and feeling sick. The good news is today I feel great - no headaches and full of energy. So you WILL feel better soon and be glad you kept going. Hope that helps!
posted Jul 9th, 2008 5:48 pmsam
hiya well done to all that ev lost weight !!! JACKIE thanks for your words ov encouragement im definitly goin to giv cd a try hopefully within the nxt 2 wks i'll keep u posted !!! im hopein 2 lose 4st im goin 2 start on ss how long do u think it will take ?? thanks again x
posted Jul 9th, 2008 5:48 pmlooniesammie
hi everyone, well i have been on sole source for 3 days now, im not hungry but just feel a little light headed and shattered, have drunk plenty of water, so hoping this will pass soon. this is my hardest day, but phoned councillor and she gave me words of encouragement, is this normal to feel like this?
posted Jul 9th, 2008 2:17 pmjane
hi - eve 64 - can you tell me how you managed to loose 1lb after being on holiday? After careful consideration i have decided to take cd with me on holiday for 2 weeks to replace breakfast and lunch, but still have a meal on the night. Can you let me know what you did - did u drink alcohol as well? You have done brilliantly - keep it up.
posted Jul 9th, 2008 2:17 pmLotty
Hi everyone! I started CD SS+ on Saturday and have found this site really encouraging and helpful. You are all doing so well and the tips are great! Well, I've lost 5lbs in 4 days - so pleased! I would like to lose 3 stone, so a long way to go. Not sure how long to expect it to take?? One tip I read was to add a teaspoon of coffee to a hot vanilla shake. Just tried it at is was a lovely change. Has anyone lost 3 stone? Would love to know how long it took you? Have a great week everyone and keep posting comments!
posted Jul 9th, 2008 10:05 amFraggle79uk
Hi all, hope you're all having a great week!! Well done to all of you who are on your first week, it's really hard but like evryone's said here, it DOES get a lot easier. I've just come back from week 4 weigh in and have lost 3.5lbs so that's 13.25lbs so far (did say i'd cut my hair off for the other 0.75lb!! lol) NICOLA - your weight loss will vary in your first week but is normally between 5lbs - 1 stone (drinking plenty of water will help boost the amount you lose) and you will normally lose around a stone a month. I've not stuck to the SS plan 100% in the last couple of weeks due to work so I haven't done as well as I probably could of but am looking forward to what I can lose so that's keeping me going. Have lost 2" off my bust, 2" off my hips and 5.5" off my waist so chuffed with that!. COZA - good luck with your goal, I started at around 17st, lost 5lbs to start the plan with having to get my doctors signature (as i'd have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment if I did!!) and am now 15st 10 and a dress size smaller, haven't been this weight in years!! I got so depressed because I couldn't imagine myself being a healthy weight and my ideal size 12 figure but each week on CD brings that just a little closer and I have a fantastic counsellor who makes all the difference. If you only lose a pound or two one week, just think - each pound you lose is 2 packets of butter!! Next time you're shopping just pick two up and feel the weight, bet that'll make you pleased with not carrying that weight anymore!! There isn't an overnight fix but we can at least give it our best shot!! Sorry for going on - hope you all have a good week xx
posted Jul 9th, 2008 10:05 amEve 64
Been on CD for 13 weeks lost 39 lbs, went to spain last week and came off diet for a week,got weighed when i came back and had lost another 1lb,back on it as want to lose another stone,feel great only diet i have been on that i have actually seen good results in a short time would recommend this diet,love the peanut bars,its like eating a snickers LOL !!
posted Jul 9th, 2008 10:05 amNicola:
Hi, I have just emailed my local counsellor to get onto the ss cd .. i am around 5'7ish and weigh around 14-14.7 depending of what iv eaten .. I am just wondering if any1 can give me an idea of how much weight I will lose .. my ideal weight is 9.7-10 so I do have an awful lot to loose =( x x
posted Jul 8th, 2008 9:53 pmjulie
been on sole source for one week weigh in tmorrow
posted Jul 8th, 2008 9:53 pmcoza
8/07/08 Been on SS for two weeks lo ving it lost half a stone so far was dieting before I started so really happy with my weight loss want to lose 5 stone. A stone a month is ok for me weight 16 stone 1 pounds i will keep you posted how im doing. love this site it's fab
posted Jul 8th, 2008 9:53 pmLisa
For Troopersue - I noticed in your post that you have similiar health issues to mine - I have a back issue with sciatica that is horribly painful. I have just started Cambridge - have you noticed any difference in your pain since you began to lose weight? Thanks.....
posted Jul 8th, 2008 12:35 pmJackie
Hi All! Just a quick one for SAM - With regards cooking for your kids - lastnight I made over 40 cookies (3 different flavours) for my partner and for staff at work. I also have to cook meals for my partner, which is like cooking for kids! Burgers, smiley faces! Spaghetti Hoops! If I can do it, anyone can! The loss is so amazing that you dont want to eat! Although I do smell EVERYTHING before Chris eats it. Give it a go, its not like you have to pay joining fees or anything. Try 1 week, and see how you get on. Good Luck! x
posted Jul 8th, 2008 12:35 pmcarrie
Can we all please not forget to rate the diet at the top of this page, if we have not done so so far!
posted Jul 8th, 2008 12:35 pmCaroline
Hi Kirsten....How you doing on the cd. Have you had your first weight yet? Not sure what mini mins is!!! I know what your saying about being a bore or anti social but felt I needed to do this for me and I rather be a bore for a while, then fat cabin crew in six months. well have a good week everyone x
posted Jul 8th, 2008 12:35 pmcheeky
7/7/08 17.4hpm hi guys hope your all okay and hope you have had a good weekend! JACKIE thats brilliant losing 9llbs bet you was so happy keep it up! i was weighed on sat and lost 8llbs. i lost 2inches from my bust, 2 inches from my waist, 1 inch from my hips and 1 inch from my thighs which i was over the moon with. i felt alot happier during the week as im having 3 small meals a day so im doing the same for this week and will get weighed on fri, fingers crossed!
posted Jul 7th, 2008 7:06 pmsam
hi im thinkin ov tryin cd im just a bit worried as 2 will i b able 2 cope avin 2 cook for 3 kids as im a single parent without giving in 2 temptation!! luv the site troopersue u make me laugh ! 2 all on cd good luck !
posted Jul 7th, 2008 7:06 pmlubyloo
Just had my 4th week weigh in lost 3.5 lbs thats now 18lbs in 4 weeks only another 11lbs to go.To every1 whos starting the diet,yes the first weekis tough but believe me it does get much much easier just dont give up,when you see the lbs coming off its all worth it!!!
posted Jul 7th, 2008 7:06 pmDonna
Anna - im on day 5 and yes, it does get easier. Day 1 & 2 were bad for me - tiredness, weakness, feeling faint and starving hungry. Day 3 felt great, not hungry at all now but do miss food. Keep at it, im sure you will feel better soon.
posted Jul 7th, 2008 8:27 am