Former TV stylist Susannah Constantine has opened up about her battle with sugar addiction, revealing how it mirrored her past struggle with alcoholism. After maintaining thirteen years of sobriety, Constantine realized she had replaced one addiction with another, consmuing roughly four times the recommended daily limit of sugar. Her journey to recovery began with a rigorous six-day detox program in Portugal, which helped her lose fourteen pounds over twelve weeks.

The Psychological Pull of Sugar

Constantine noted that her behavior surrounding the consumption of chocolate and other sugary treats had become alarmingly similar to her drinking habits. She explained that sugar activates the same reward pathways in the brain, triggering the release of dopamine and opioids, which explains why the craving can feel so uncontrollable. this internal strggle reached a tipping point when she began hiding her snacks to avoid judgment, turning a lifelong passion for sweets into a dirty secret.

A Family Intervention

Her daughters, Esme and Cece, eventually began to call her out on her habits, questioning the contradiction of her attempting to eat healthily while simultaneously consuming large quantities of chocolate and confectionery. Constantine admitted that she often tried to justify her sugar intake by claiming that her other healthy eating habits earned her the right to indulge in sweets. However, the reality was that she was consuming far more sugar than recommended.

The Detox Retreat in Portugal

Recovery began when a close friend, Lulu Hutley, invited her to a selcuded retreat in the Algarve region of Portugal. Nestled in the hills behind Olhão da Restauração, the remote location served as a vital sanctuary, physically separating Constantine from the easy access to sugary foods that dominated her life in the city. Hutley had secretly coordinated with a nutritionist named Edna to implement a rigorous six-day dietary intervention.

This intensive detox program was highly prescriptive and included gut and colon cleansing, enemas, and a strict anti-inflammatory diet. All processed foods, refined carbohydrates,and sugars were strictly forbidden. Despite the difficulty of the process, the results were significant. Over a twelve-week period following the intervention, Constantine managed to lose fourteen pounds, or one stone, as she successfully broke the cycle of unhealthy eating.

Comparing Sugar Addiction to Alcoholism

Constantine reflected that giving up sugar was actually more challenging than quitting alcohol because the social stigma surrounding sugar is far lower, making it much easier to justify the habit to herself and others. This journey toward health is deeply intertwined with her history of addiction. Constantine first hit her personal rock bottom with alcohol in 2013 during a family holiday in Cornwall with her husband, Sten Bertelsen, and their children.

She described a devastating incident where she blacked out and suffered a fall that resulted in two broken transverse processes in her back. The experience was profoundly humiliating, as she woke up to find her children had witnessed her collapse. This moment of absolute vulnerability became the catalyst for her sobriety. The following day, she gathered her family and confessed that she had been lying about the extent of her drinking and asked for their help to regain their trust.

The Generational Pattern of Addiction

Having grown up with a mother who also struggled with alcoholism, Constantine recognized the generational pattern of addiction. By sharing her more recent struggle with sugar, she highlights the complex nature of cravings and the importance of professional support and environmental changes in achieving long-term wellness. Her story serves as a reminder that addiction can manifest in various forms and that the path to recovery often requires a combination of honesty, discipline, and the support of loved ones.