The Cambridge Diet

The Cambridge Diet is a low-calorie weight loss plan developed in 1970 by Dr. Alan Howard at Cambridge University, England. It was first used exclusively in weight loss clinics, and then launched as a commercial product in the United States in 1980, with distribution in the UK beginning in 1984. The Cambridge diet became very popular in the United States in the 1980s, and the Cambridge company says it has helped over 15 million people lose weight.

The diet formula is intended to harness "the excellent weight loss properties of starvation", while providing enough protein to protect lean tissue, the right level of carbohydrate to promote a mild ketosis (the body's fasting mode, which burns body fat) and eliminate a sense of hunger, and the right levels of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids to maintain good health. The meals are intended to combine all necessary food groups to satisfy a body’s nutritional needs, in order to allow a person to stop craving foods and overeating.

The company recommends eating only three of their pre-packaged meals a day (a total of 500 calories or less), for the fastest weight loss, or combining their meals with some regular food for more gradual weight loss. The food consists of nutrition bars, shakes, oats, soups, or formulas in various flavors. Cambridge also recommends at least eight glasses of water a day.

The diet discourages alcohol, chewing gum, and high-energy exercises while on this diet.