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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
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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 52 of 59, 1175 total comments)Troopersue
06/04/08. AVRIL :- Havent had any probs with the mix-a-mousse. I add one level scoop of the mix-a-mousse to a packet of the shake and mix the powder all together in the packet with a spoon until the white mix is totally blended with the drink powder. Then add this mix to 160mls of chilled water. Blend on low power for approx 10-15 secs. Pour into dish (preferably a plastic one, works better, dont know why). Place in fridge for 15mins. Good luck with your diet, let me know how you get on with the mousse.
posted Apr 6th, 2008 9:13 pmMaria
To all the comments about exercising, you re not supposed to on a very low calorie diet, you re body doesnt have the engery to do it, and yes you re right it does slow down your weight loss, as your body gets used to the low calories, but if you start exercising, it starts to hold onto the small amount of calories going into your body in an attempt to maintain an equilibrian, this is why after a time your weight slows down anyway.
posted Apr 6th, 2008 9:13 pmAlison
hi all Im coming to the end of my third week now of SS and I too am feelin the cold. I have my next meeting with my CD councilor and I will ask her about it. Im finding im always curled up under a blanket. Im ok if im moving around its when i sit still! Still doing well though lost 1 and 1/2 stone. Trouble is I have started to pick at food which I know shouldnt! not meals just a tomato or a small piece of cheese Advice to any one on SS DONT BE TEMPTED TO PICK! it just makes it worse! Anyway Summer will soon be here and thats will push us all to keep going!! Also some of my friends and my sister in law are now starting the diet so there you go it cant be all bad can it!! Results must show. keep going!!!!
posted Apr 6th, 2008 9:13 pmTroopersue
Hi again everyone, glad to read youre all doing so well. I have a problem - its not so much a hunger one, its just that I am soooooooo cold !!. Been this way for past 2 weeks now. Is anyone else experiencing this ?. Im now coming up to the end of my week 4 on ss. Im currently sitting here with heating up full and a hot water bottle on my lap :-(. Ive been the same at work too - freeeezin'. Is it just me ???
posted Apr 6th, 2008 11:05 amMags;o)
I started on 1000 cal CD on friday, felt very dizzy yesterday, but today feel really good, going to drop to 810 tomorrow ready for going sole. Have really enjoyed reading all the comments, as my daughter was horrified I had started diet, thinks I'm made but I really need to shift at leat 3 stone, my knees are killing me, and want the old me back.
posted Apr 6th, 2008 11:05 amAvril
Hi me again i forgot to ask if anyone had problems with the mix a mousse i tried it last night and it was a disaster, it came out all gloopy and didn't look nice at all is this how it should be. GZZZ i am on day 4 but started the diet on step 2 having a meal at night i have a chicken breast putting some lemon juice & spices on it and usually have broccoli & cabbage and i still lost 8lbs, get weighed on wed night then i am doing sole source for 4 weeks hope i can stick to that, Good luck Lizzy hope all goes well, i will just think of you all when i have a weak moment at how well you are all doing:)
posted Apr 6th, 2008 11:05 amAvril
Hi well just a wee update for everyone, i started the diet on the thursday and just had to weigh myself on the sat morning and i had lost 8lbs which i was really pleased with, my husband is doing the diet with me and he lost 10lbs, on day 2 i felt a little bit weak, day 3 i had a slight headache but generally feel fine, trying to keep positive, we go to florida 8 weeks on sat so i am determined to keep at this until the week before we go the do the add a meal just to get us back into food again! It's so good reading everyones comments as it has given me alot of encouragment as i had pretty negative thoughts to start thinking i would fail very quickly, but hey i think i will manage this as i don't feel hungry at all, i do have the odd bit of sugar free chewing gum that keeps me going. Good luck to everyone will be back soon x
posted Apr 6th, 2008 11:05 amGZZZ
Has anyone got any ideas for the add a meal week?? only on day 3 at moment and doing ok, drink lots of water and i have sugar free chewing gum
posted Apr 5th, 2008 9:36 pmSophieKia
A week has passed since starting step 3 on CD, i lost 4 lbs, which i'm very happy about. I'm working my way down to go on sole source so i'm not going to be losing alot of weight just yet, but 4lbs is great. i have roughly 3 stone to lose. 13 stone to 10 stone....
posted Apr 5th, 2008 3:58 pmdawn
johnners i want to lose about 3 1/2 stone .when you do sole source after 4 wks you have to add a meal wk and i've stuck to it religiously not cheated once and was rewarded today with size 16 work trs.i found that the first couple of wks i was really cold all the while but that isnt so bad anymore.i've been really lucky cos i havent been hungry once.it will get easier when u get the buzz of being weighed and dropping down another stone. if ur paying all that money you may as well get ur moneys worth
posted Apr 5th, 2008 3:58 pmjohnners
hey Dawn you are an inspiration! sounds like we are on about the same quest.how much weight do you want to lose? is that the scheme to do sole source for 4 weeks then one off then back on sole source again? have you cheated at all? i am on day 5 lost 9lb feel lifeless, but ok. does it get easier as the time goes on? bet you are well pleased with your weight loss-well done. fantastic!!!
posted Apr 5th, 2008 6:57 amjohnners
go Lizzie- am on the sole source. 3 shakes a day. its very hard but worth it for sure. think weekend might be difficult, but hope to get through it. keep goinggggggg
posted Apr 4th, 2008 3:54 pmdawn
hi kelly im following the sole source programme so i've done 4 wks then 1 wk add a meal which i lost 5lb and am now back on sole source i've been really lucky as i havent been hungry.good luck with your weigh in,let us know how u get on!
posted Apr 4th, 2008 3:54 pmEvelyn
ANON - I started my CD two weeks ago and have lost 9lbs in my first two weeks, but I had a bit of a problem with my periods as I had a few "shows" for about a week before I they came properly. I usually last for about four days but this time they have lasted for the whole week! I agree that the weight loss depends on how much you have to lose. I lost 9lbs in 2 weeks. I started at 12st 8 lbs and want to get down to 10st 12 lbs. I am also having difficulty with my bowel movements, I haven't been for around 5 days, even although I am drinking loads of water! Anyone experiencing the same thing?
posted Apr 4th, 2008 3:54 pmjohnners
hi, feel rough today-day 5 - but lost 8lb!! anyone suffer the same weakness-f so how long does it last ?
posted Apr 4th, 2008 8:30 amLizzy
I started cd yesterday, having a shake in the morning, soup for lunch and another shake mid-afternoon then a soup in the evening - weighed myseld this morning and lost a 1lb-makes it worth while - I was so hungry by 10pm last night! Will it get easier? The page helps so much, i keep reading it on and off for most of the day here at work!! L
posted Apr 4th, 2008 8:30 amKelly
4-4-08 DAWN wow well done, thats really good, which programme are you following? i bet your so proud of yourself i feel really pleased for you, i have my first weigh in tomorrow and im so worried as i dont want to be disapointed because i have been so so so good, fingers crossed x anon i havnt had any problems with my period but has any body experienced poor weight loss leading up to or following a period? i am worried about that!
posted Apr 4th, 2008 8:30 amTroopersue
4/4/08 Wow DAWN youre doing brilliantly. 5lb in the week 5 is great. I hope I do so well. ANON:- Cant really say about periods as I had a hysterectomy a few year back. But I do know that anorexics have this problem due to their limited food intake , so it "could" be. Id definately talk this over with your counsellor. AVRIL:- Lots of luck with your 1st week. Keep us all updated wont you ?. JOHNNERS :- ohhh you're a funny one. lol. Bin those biscuits and cover ya mirror up if ya have to. LOL. As for the chatroom, I was using IE7 and couldnt log back in . I then tried using firefox, made the screen bigger and hey presto I got back in. So come on you lot, try logging in to chat ~ ive got black tea n coffee, shakes, soups and bars waiting for ya and ive found up a real nice blanket for you Johnners to cover that mirror with !! .. LOL.
posted Apr 4th, 2008 8:30 amAvril
Hi i just started cd today 2/4/08 feel fine didn't feel hungey at all, had shake for breakfast, tetra pack for lunch, small dinner & just had a shake at 8pm, feel satisfied as i was pretty worried about starting this, i am very impressed with the weight loss of everyone here and hope that i can lose 2 - 3 stone very quickly, will be back to let you all know how i'm doing x
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 8:41 pmdawn
been on diet for five weeks lost 9lb,6lb,2lb,3lb,5lb,so thats 25lb start weight 16.4 now 14.7 height 5/7 gone from size 20/22 to just about in a 16 hows that for encouragement!
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 8:41 pm