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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 53 of 59, 1175 total comments)anon
Hi you girls out there - have any of you that have been doing CD for a while had any problems with periods due to the low calories intake - I would have thought it would be ok due to the balanced vitamins and minerals or is it me just going funny!!!!!!
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 2:25 pmjohnners
struggling here! just looked at myself in mirror and thought you are never gonna do it ya large unit! seems so much to lose.... but whats the alternative? eat some biscuits to make me feel bettter? nah lets fight chubbyness together!!!!!
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 9:16 amjohnners
hi, i too tried to get into the live chat room but was not working.
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 9:16 amjohnners
hey Troopersue! i am 5.7 and 15.7 so really am about 4 stone overweight- however i lost a couple of stone a couple of years ago and thought i looked ok. i felt like twiggy! so if i could lose a 2 and half stone i would be happy. just hard isnt it. the worst thing is the unsocial aspect- ie not eating with family and friends. but hey ho! small price to pay. day 4 now. feel a bit weak but according to scales i have lost about 5lb. come on!!! av it.how much has everyone else lost? encourage meeeeeeeeee
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 9:16 amKelly
TROOPERSUE i have tried the chatrooms and reading the forums but it seems noone else does, lol ....CARMAINE dont give up hope i know for myself tht if i have ever "cheated" on a diet i beat myself up about it and make myself feel worse, instead of thnking about what you have done think about the good you have done and just continue, it is hard and i know what you mean when you say about eating out of habit, i do it too, however this is my 7th day and im feeling better about it than i did when i started, i've now started chewing sugar free gum so my jaws don't feel redundant and this has made me feel better. good luck, persevere and it wil be wort it :)
posted Apr 3rd, 2008 9:16 amTroopersue
02/04/08. A quick update on this chatroom. .... have now logged out and tried to log back in again and it seems you cant. There is an advert that blocks you from logging back in :(. oh well, a good idea in theory I guess !
posted Apr 2nd, 2008 6:48 pmTroopersue
02/01/08. Glad you're feeling better KELLY, keep up the good work :) CHARMAINE :- As you said you aready know this diet works. You seem to read a lot of people saying that once theyve given in just that once its a steady downward spiral from there on in. So I guess the secret is dont give in. When hunger does strike, have a drink and do something else to take your mind off it if ya can. JOHNERS: - lol @ the bloater remark. How much weight have you got to lose ? I think the more you have to lose, the quicker it seems to happen. Until it slows down again of-course. THATS when you start ya prayin ..lol. Does anyone ever use the live chatroom on here ? Ive now managed to sign up and log into it and have been sitting talking to myself for ages now. (so whats new!!) But ill keep it open and check regularly to see if anyone pops in. I'll keep the kettle warm for ya :>).
posted Apr 2nd, 2008 6:48 pmjohnners
hey you guys.. keep at it, very encouraging to hear your comments. day 3 for me, feel ok. 15.7 stone bloater to start, lets see how long it takes to lose a couple of stone.please god let it be quick. i cant fit in any of me clothes!!!!
posted Apr 2nd, 2008 9:49 amTroopersue
01/04/08. Woohoo this week ive lost 2 stone .... APRIL FOOL !!! .... lol....Seriously though ive lost 3lb this week. Thats now 1st 2lb loss in 3 weeks. Hope youre all losing and best of luck to all those just starting :)
posted Apr 1st, 2008 4:35 pmcharmaine
some one please help.this is soooo sooo hard. ive done the cambridge three or four times now.when i stick to it,it really does work. but i always seem to not stick to it.:( i doo really want to loose this weight but i just seem to eat then feel really awful. i dont think i even eat because im hungry more just out of habit i think.please has ne one got ne advice to help. x
posted Apr 1st, 2008 4:35 pmKelly
Today is day five i feel totally different, i hope everyone else is doing fine, i know for myself that if i am having a weak moment then i come and read everyones comments again it really does help, GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and please keep posting your comments because it really helps me and im sure it will help everyone else xxx
posted Apr 1st, 2008 4:35 pmscw
Good luck kate, Just keep going and it will work. My sister has just started the diet today, so MB best of luck, you know it works. Just make sure you drink loads of water. Love SCW Good luck to everyone else too. SCW
posted Mar 31st, 2008 11:38 amKate
I have been on CD for 8 weeks now and have lost 2 stone. I have been struggling for the past three weeks and have maintained my weight loss by having half healthy meals and half shakes as I felt that I needed more to sustain me - I am going back onto solo tomorrow as I only have 1 stone to go and want to achieve this before my holiday in 9 weeks time. I have set myself a target date of 21 May to help to achieve this as I now need new clothes - so to keep me focused I am going to go through my wardrobe and have a clearout - not looking forward to it and have been delaying this as I am a terrible hoarder and keep everything even things I have not worn for years - yes sad I know!!! I have been reading this site and it is helping me knowing that everyone is in the same boat. It is a really good diet and I was really focused but as I said feel I am losing it a little. I have lost a lot of inches as well and just want to get to goal weight - any advice or help anyone to keep me going???
posted Mar 30th, 2008 6:35 pmKelly
Read all your comments and i have to say that it has made me feel better, i am on day 3 of the diet and have had a headache for 2 days, felt sick this morning but hey no headache! i'm drinking loads of water, im going to jamaica in 10 weeks and dont want to squueze into the seat for 10 hours, have my weigh in thursday and i hope i lose the weight because i know i will get disheartened, however it feels so good to know im not the only one going through this
posted Mar 30th, 2008 9:55 amTroopersue
29/03/08 Well done SophieKia for making the decision to change your life around. Im sure once you see the loss on those scales after just one week it will give you the incentive to carry on. It's good that you're doing this at your age. Much harder when you're older. So that's a plus in itself. Do try not to cheat, cuz as soon as you've cheated once youre likely to go and do it again. And again. Then youll bad about it and eat cuz you feel bad. It becomes a vicious circle. Do let us know how it goes. Good or bad, we're all here for you. So good luck Sophie and everyone else who's either already on it or at the thinking about it stage.
posted Mar 29th, 2008 8:08 pmSophieKia
I've been fat ever since i was 8, i'm only 5'2 and weigh 13 stone. I'm 16 years old, i've tried dieting quite a few times, weight watchers etc. I've lost about a stone in each diet but never managed to keep it up. I personally feel that sucessfull dieting needs will power, without this you can be sure you'll get no where. Once my brain is trained in to wanting to lose weight and eating healthly+excersize i can do really well, it's just keeping your head in that frame of mind. I'm starting the cambridge diet tomorrow. I think i'm going on step 3 because my doctor wouldn't allow me to go on step 1 because of my age. I actually have alot of faith in this diet because some of the results i've seen are amazing. I've never tried a low-calorie diet before, i've always just stuck to the "eating healthy" ones, but i always cheat on them, so maybe the strictness of this diet will get me in gear. As to keeping off the weight, i'm sure that if i get results of seeing myself 2 stone lighter, i would definetaly want to change my ways of eating. There's no feeling better in the world than being obese for most your life then losing it. :)
posted Mar 28th, 2008 6:32 pmTroopersue
26/3/08. Victoria, are you mixing the soups thoroughly enough ?. Ive been using a liquidizer, low speed for approx 10-15 secs. I add the hot water into liquidizer jug from kettle, add packet contents and switch on. For the cold drinks I measure required water in a bottle and put in fridge overnight. Then in the morning its just a matter of emptying bottle into liquidizer jug, add packet, switch on. Same amount of time, approx 10-15 secs on low. All depends how frothy you like it as to what speed you use. Good luck Paula, keep us all updated wont you ?
posted Mar 26th, 2008 8:55 pmvictoria
today is day three i feel really good dont feel hungry i'm full of energy today hope this last saw my boyfriend eat chicken burger last nite didnt feel tempted at all
posted Mar 26th, 2008 9:39 amPaula
I'm away to start the diet tomorrow. I'm worried that I'll not cope with the hunger very well, but I'm going to give it a good try and it seems that the weight loss is quick, so hopefully that'll keep me motivated. Roll on tomorrow, in a weird way, I'm looking forward to it. I might be hungry and miserable by tomorrow night though.
posted Mar 25th, 2008 3:22 pmvictoria
Hi just started this CD yesterday. i found it really hard after i had the chicken and mushroom soup i though i was going to throw up so i ate a stip of ham to get the taste out of my mouth i feel soo bad now wish i never did eat the ham guys will this stop me loosing weight
posted Mar 25th, 2008 3:22 pm