Susanna Reid has admitted she suffers from hang anxiety and skin problems have led her to go “alcohol-free”.
The 53-year-old presenter spoke to Lorraine Kelly on her morning show on Thursday about the health benefits she has experienced since quitting alcohol.
Susanna, who stopped drinking in 2018, added that while she still “enjoys a few bubbly” on very special occasions, she is “99.9 percent alcohol-free.”
When she joined Lorraine in the studio, the presenter said: “You’re glowing.”
“Thanks, a lot of people are doing well, Jan, and you need the right motivation to stick with it.” “People think why not, you need a why to do it,” Susanna began.
Susanna Reid, 53, has admitted she suffers from hang anxiety and skin problems have led her to go “alcohol free” (pictured on Good Morning Britain this week).
The presenter, who stopped drinking in 2018, added that while she still “enjoys a few bubbly” on very special occasions, she is “99.9 percent alcohol-free.”
She continued: “The reason for this was because I kept getting breakouts on my skin and my doctor said it was because alcohol dilates blood vessels and causes blood to pool in the skin. “I was prone to breakouts, Breakouts and rosacea. I thought, I don't want just one.
“When you get up so early in the morning, you definitely need a clear head. I just noticed that it took me longer to flush it through my system even if I had a drink on the weekend and I just didn't like that hang anxiety feeling. That slightly tense feeling.
“It had a pretty dramatic effect on my weight and I lost quite a bit.” Of course then you replace other things too! “White wine is known as liquid cake, it just has so many calories.”
“I just think, do it for a month and see what effect it has on your skin and your health.”
“When someone celebrates I still raise a glass, I'll still have bubbles at Christmas.” “I'm alcohol-free 99.9% of the time.”
Susanna revealed to the Mail in 2019 that she no longer experienced hang anxiety and explained what that meant.
“It was kind of a tingly feeling when you don't find peace, your body is just so upset,” she said.
“I never drank while I was working, but on my evenings off I would have a few glasses of wine. And Piers and I had these great evenings at the Groucho Club in Soho which were wonderful.”
She explained: “The reason for this was because I kept getting breakouts on my skin and my doctor said it was because alcohol dilates the blood vessels and causes blood to pool in the skin.”
Susanna added: “I just didn't like that feeling of fear on the slopes. “That slightly tense feeling.”
She continued: “But I haven't done anything like that since I stopped drinking.” “Basically, I enjoy it a lot less now – as Piers keeps telling me.”
Susanna also talked about the impact sobriety has had on her love life.
She said: “Someone – he will remain anonymous – and I have arranged a date.”
“I thought it might be good manners to mention the fact that I don't drink because most people like to drink on a date.
“And all of a sudden he stopped making arrangements,” she said. “It just stopped happening.” “A lot of people just think it's no fun to go out at night.”
“I don’t care,” she added. “I’m just grateful that I don’t have to worry about waking up with a sore head.”
Susanna celebrated 100 days of sobriety in December 2018 and seven months in April 2019, but has not marked any milestones publicly since then.
Speaking after seven months, Susanna admitted: “I wasn't completely dry yet… there are times when you fall back into it.”
In 2020, she said: “It's a bit like the end of a relationship when you're not quite ready to say it's really over.”
Susanna has lost two kilos since quitting alcohol.
While Susanna has finally quit alcohol, the presenter revealed last month that she had been experiencing health problems after doctors warned her about her caffeine consumption.
Susanna admitted to drinking an incredible eight coffees a day to get through the 3.45am start of Good Morning Britain.
“Losing my voice at the beginning of the year was a bit scary. Everyone's going to croak a little bit from time to time, but I couldn't get a sound out of my vocal cords and that's never happened before,” she said in the February issue of woman&home.
“I went very quickly to a specialist who stuck a camera down my throat, which required a nurse to hold my hand because I found it quite intrusive.”
Susanna revealed to the Mail in 2019 that she no longer experienced hang anxiety and explained what that meant
“The specialist said I might have a virus I didn't know I had.” As long as we're not really sick, we all keep working, right?
“I'm not doing anything to boost my immunity and that's what I should be doing.” The doctor was quite surprised that I wasn't drinking more water and quite a bit of coffee, so I tried to cut back.
“One morning we found out I had eight coffees. But I don't drink the whole cup, just a few sips.'
Susanna said she reduced her caffeine consumption by mixing her drinks with ginger tea.