Occasionally, during the initial three days a person may experience carbohydrate withdrawal and may develop a headache. This is a temporary effect and should be tolerated. A simple tablet for headaches, for example aspirin, taken for a day or two will improve the problem.

This is a minor problem and is considered a possible transient effect that will last for only a short time. Some people have systems that are not used to the mineral content in the Cambridge Diet. The solutions are very simple. One is to take a bulk laxative such as Metamucil, or Fibogel. This will provide bulk to the intestinal system and alleviate the problem. Another is to consume a full glass of water following the Cambridge Diet meal in order to dilute the effect of the minerals on the body. A third solution is to take the Cambridge Diet in the form of mini meals (six half portions per day) initially to slow the mineral intake.
Another possible cause of continued diarrhoea is lactose intolerance. Some people cannot digest the lactose in milk products, and diarrhoea can occur. If this is the case, an addition of the enzyme lactase is sufficient to solve the problem. Lactase is available from chemists or health food stores and is a very inexpensive solution to the problem.

This is very normal and should not cause any concern. In fact, why not just enjoy it!

It is not uncommon for a person to require less sleep when their body is put in proper nutritional balance. I know of many cases where people thought that they require 9 or 10 hours of sleep per night, only to find that when they lost weight and maintained nutritional balance their sleep requirement dropped considerably. Having an extra hour or two awake each day may be a pleasant side effect of the Cambridge Diet.

It is normal to experience thirst on occasion when dieting. The solution is simple. Drink more liquids. At least eight glasses of liquid should be consumed each day in addition to the Cambridge Meals.

A mild ketosis may develop when on the Cambridge Diet as your sole source of nutrition and this may affect your breath slightly. Simply brush your teeth more often, and use mouth wash, sugar-free chewing gum or breath fresheners.

The Cambridge Diet contains sufficient roughage for most people. When one goes on any diet including the Cambridge Diet, much less bulk is being consumed, and therefore there is much less bulk to be eliminated. As a result, bowel movements are much less frequent. This is normal, and should not cause immediate concern. When the body is ready, the bowels will move, if physical discomfort is actually being suffered then a natural laxative such as Metamucil or Fybogel should be taken according to instructions.

On occasion a person's body will be upset by the minerals present in the Cambridge Diet. This is usually very short lived. The benefits of the Diet far outweigh any short-term discomfort and should be tolerated. Usually, a full glass of water following your Cambridge meal will eliminate this problem. If it still persists, start taking your Cambridge Diet along with a regular meal. Another solution is to break the Cambridge Diet down into six mini meals per day, and follow each meal with a glass of water to dilute the effect of the minerals.

Dizziness is a possible transient effect of any diet and should only last for a day or so. It is most often caused by the diuretic effect that accompanies any low calorie diet. During the first few days of the Diet, the body will give up a considerable amount of water, which reduces the amount of fluid circulating in the body. This can be compensated for by drinking large volumes of liquid and avoiding quick changes in position or extreme exertion during the first few days of the Diet.

This is almost certainly due to a reduced thermogenic response to a reduced food intake. Large meals cause the body to generate a lot of body heat, while smaller meals produce less heat. Individuals differ widely in their thermogenic response.
For those that are affected, the cold feeling is due to the very small number of calories on the 'Sole Source' programme. Other factors that influence body heat production include the slight reduction in metabolic rate which always happens during weight loss, and of course the loss of insulating fat! Those who are sensitive to the cold need to move around more and wrap up warmly - many light layers are more effective than a single heavy layer.

After a large weight loss skin may sag. It should recover, but the speed of recovery will depend on the dieter's age, general health and level of nutrition. Ageing reduces the amount of collagen - the main support structure in the skin - making it less supple with time. Younger, rather than older skin will therefore firm up more quickly following weight loss. Massaging with lotions and oils may help. But nothing can regenerate lost collagen. It is unusual for there to be no reduction in skinfolds once weight has stabilised for a prolonged period of time, in such cases it may be necessary to eventually resort to plastic surgery. A well-balanced diet contributes greatly to good health in general and contributes to a healthy glowing skin. The complete, balanced and easily absorbed nutrition in the Cambridge Diet seems to speed up the process of firming skin and reduces skinfolds.

Hormone levels fluctuate when there are changes in weight - particularly in women. For most, the menstrual cycle is not affected, but some women experience increased activity and breakthrough bleeding may occur. Others may find that their periods stop for a while. Once target weight is reached and weight loss ceases, the metabolic rate will adjust to a new level appropriate to the new weight, and the hormones will settle down and find their own pattern again.

A few people are prone to cramp while using the Diet as their Sole Source of nutrition. It is not caused by the diet itself, but by the increased throughput of fluid in the body's tissues. The muscle spasms result from changes in sodium levels as the water shifts between cells. The remedy for most people is to keep warm, whilst a drink of slimline tonic water just before bedtime may also help, as it contains quinine - as may "Crampex" tablets.

Hair loss, with a generalised thinning of the hair, is usually linked to emotional stress, severe illness, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, hormones, and (for a few people) extensive weight loss over a sustained period of time whatever the method of weight loss used. So, it is due to a physiological response to the actual weight loss process rather than to the Diet, and the incidence is very low. Hair does re-grow, usually thicker and glossier than before. It is the "lesser of the evils" and you will have the best of both worlds - a healthy weight and a good head of hair.
This condition should not be confused with alopecia whereby hair comes out in patches which is a medical condition needing treatment by a doctor.

Very rarely, a temporary change in vision shows up if a routine eye test is performed while taking the Cambridge Diet as a Sole Source of nutrition. It can happen when the dieter is not drinking enough while taking the Diet. The lack of fluid in the body causes a loss of fluid from inside the eye, slightly affecting its shape. Drinking more fluid restores the correct shape to the eyeball. It is self-righting once 'Sole Source' is finished and does not present a problem.

Rashes can be caused by any number of things other than the food we eat - pollution, temperature, sunlight, fabrics, washing powders, etc. However, allergies should always be treated with great respect. Just occasionally there is something in the formula of the Cambridge Diet to which there is an allergic reaction, in which case the Diet is not suitable for that person. Stopping, then restarting the Diet is the only way to be certain if Cambridge is the cause.