Understanding Cravings When You Have Celiac Disease

Let’s talk cravings. They can be frustrating, confusing, and let’s be honest—totally derail your health goals if you’re not careful.

Whether you're trying to reach your ideal weight, feel more energized, or just want to stay on track with eating gluten free, cravings can pop up and throw everything off. And the truth is, cravings aren’t just about willpower or being “bad” around food. In fact, they often come from deeper physical or emotional imbalances.

As a Health Coach who supports women living with celiac disease, I’ve seen firsthand how cravings can cause setbacks—but I’ve also seen how empowering it can be when you understand why you’re having them and how to respond in a healthier way.

Let’s break down the 11 most common causes of cravings so you can get to the root of what’s going on in your body—and stop letting cravings control your day.

Here are my Top 12 Reasons for Cravings

1. Dehydration

This one’s so simple, yet so often overlooked. When you're dehydrated, your body can misinterpret the signal and make you feel hungry instead. So, if you find yourself thinking “I’m craving something, but I’m not actually hungry,” try having a glass of water first. You might just be thirsty.

💧 Try this: Keep a water bottle nearby throughout the day and aim to sip regularly, especially before meals.

2. Emotional Dissatisfaction

Cravings often show up when there’s an emotional void in your life—maybe you’re stressed, lonely, bored, or feeling unfulfilled. Food can feel like a quick fix for those emotions because it gives us a temporary hit of dopamine (hello, comfort food!).

I’ve seen this play out so many times, especially when someone is lacking connection in their relationships, purpose in their work, or even a sense of joy in their day-to-day life.

💡 Try this: Ask yourself, “What am I really needing right now?”—is it food, or is it connection, rest, or support?

It's fascinating how we may not always connect our cravings to our lifestyle and personal circumstances. Exploring this aspect can be a game changer, and that's why a Health Tracker can provide support.

Check out my Health Tracker here. I've designed this tracker specifically for women with celiac disease.

3. Energetic Imbalance (Yin & Yang Foods)

Ever notice how salty and sweet cravings often go hand in hand? You might crave a salty snack like chips, then immediately want something sweet like chocolate or a soft drink. That’s your body trying to create balance—yin and yang in action.

🍕 Think of it like this: You eat pizza (salty), then crave Coke (sweet). It's not random—your body is responding to what you just ate.

🧠 Awareness is key here. Once you understand that your cravings are linked, you can start finding better ways to balance meals.

4. Childhood Food Memories

Food is emotional, and certain cravings can take us straight back to our childhood. We often crave meals that brought us comfort, joy, or a sense of belonging when we were young.

For me, it was Vegemite on toast and Weet-Bix—those Aussie childhood staples. When I was first diagnosed with celiac disease and couldn’t have them anymore, I genuinely craved them—not just for the taste, but for the memories they brought up.

🍝 Maybe it’s your mum’s lasagna or your favourite birthday cake. These cravings are powerful and very real.

Flashback to the exciting day I could have Weet-Bix again

5. Seasonal Changes

Cravings often change with the weather. During summer, you might crave fresh salads and smoothies. But in winter? Bring on the warm, comforting meals.

I always tell my clients—don’t force yourself to eat salads in the middle of winter if it doesn’t feel right. Our bodies are naturally drawn to foods that help us stay in balance with the seasons.

🥗 In summer: Raw foods, cooling meals, lighter options🍲 In winter: Roasted veggies, soups, warm meals to nourish and ground us

6. Nutrient Deficiencies

Your body is incredibly smart—it will nudge you toward the nutrients you're lacking. For example, craving chocolate can sometimes mean you're low in magnesium. If you’re low in iron, you might crave red meat or feel drawn to foods that give you a boost of energy.

🧠 The tricky part? These cravings can sometimes steer you toward unhealthy sources of those nutrients, especially if you're unaware of the underlying deficiency.

🥦 Try this: Look at your overall diet and consider getting your nutrient levels tested if cravings are persistent.

7. Hormonal Fluctuations

Ladies, we know this one all too well. Hormonal changes throughout your cycle can cause intense cravings, especially around your period. That’s because your body actually needs more calories during certain phases, and your hunger cues will change to reflect that.

Instead of beating yourself up for wanting more food, recognise that it’s your body working exactly as it should.

📆 Try this: Track your cycle alongside your eating habits. It can be so helpful in understanding your own patterns.

8. Poor Sleep

Lack of sleep = increased cravings. When you're tired, your body starts seeking quick energy in the form of carbs and sugar.

🍩 Think about a time you stayed up too late or had broken sleep—you probably reached for coffee and sugar the next day to get through.

💤 Focus on quality sleep so you can give your body the chance to reset properly and reduce those unnecessary cravings.

9. Blood Sugar Imbalances

If you’re eating a lot of refined sugar or high-carb meals, your blood sugar will spike and then crash—causing even more cravings. It’s a vicious cycle that can last all day if you’re not careful.

🍬 You eat sugar → your blood sugar spikes⬇️ You crash → your body craves sugar to boost you back up🔁 And around we go...

⚖️ The solution? Focus on balanced meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats to keep your energy steady.

10. Imbalanced Gut Bacteria

Your gut bacteria actually influence your cravings. If your microbiome is out of balance, especially with too much bad bacteria or yeast, you’ll often crave sugar—because that’s what those microbes feed on.

And when you feed the bad bugs? They multiply… and the cravings just keep coming.

🦠 I’ve done an entire podcast episode on the gut microbiome, and I highly recommend checking it out if this resonates with you here.

11. Restriction & Dieting (Including Gluten Free Living)

This one’s so important, especially in the celiac community. When we restrict ourselves too much—whether it's from dieting or just feeling overwhelmed by going gluten free—we can end up obsessing over food.

The more we tell ourselves “I can’t have that”, the more we want it.

🍫 I always recommend my clients follow an 80/20 approach:

• 80% nourishing, gluten free whole foods

• 20% gluten free treats and flexibility - but always gluten free of course!!

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about sustainability.

12. Social Influence & Addictive Foods

Sometimes we crave food simply because we’ve seen someone else eating it—whether it’s a friend, a TV ad, or something online. And don’t even get me started on processed foods. Many of them are scientifically engineered to be addictive, containing just the right combo of sugar, salt, and fat to keep you coming back for more.

📺 Ads often show up at the time we’re most likely to snack (hello, evening TV watching!). Be mindful of what you’re consuming—not just in food, but visually.

Cravings don’t make you weak or undisciplined. They’re your body’s way of telling you something is off—physically, emotionally, or energetically.

When you can get to the root cause, cravings become easier to manage and much less overwhelming. So next time you find yourself reaching for food when you’re not truly hungry, take a pause and ask: What does my body really need right now?

If you’re tired of navigating celiac disease on your own and you’re ready for real support, I’d love to invite you to learn more about The Healthy Celiac Collective.

This is where I work closely with women just like you—who are done with the guesswork, the overwhelm, and the constant cravings—and are ready to feel confident, empowered, and healthy while living gluten free. Inside the Collective, you’ll get practical guidance, expert coaching, and a supportive community that truly understands what you're going through. If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start thriving with celiac disease, this is the next step for you. Find out more here or get on the waitlist for the next round.