We stumbled upon Firin Bakery by chance after reading a lot about celiac disease (a digestive disorder triggered by eating the protein gluten), gluten intolerance and the latest trend of gluten free diets that many people around the world are adopting.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye, malts and triticale. Individuals with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or those looking to eat gluten free must substitute other grains instead of wheat, rhye and barley in their diets. Several grains and starch sources are used instead such are corn, potatoes, rice, and tapioca.
According to Firin, "studies conducted by international agencies estimate that there are over 8,000 people in Kuwait who suffer from celiac disease." Celiac disease is a digestive condition that is triggered by the consumption of the protein gluten; people with celiac disease experience abdominal pain, and diarrhea after consuming foods with gluten such as bread, pasta, cookies, etc. Increased consumption of gluten eventually causes damage to the inner surface of those individual's small intestines, causing them to an inability to absorb certain nutrients and cause vitamin deficiencies; further depriving vital organs such as the brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, and liver amongst others.
Gluten-free diets are believed to improve overall health and well-being and according to available medical literature, people with medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, parkinson's disease, autism, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, seizures, osteoporosis, type 2 and type 1 diabetes and anemia benefit and quickly recover after adopting a gluten-free diet; which in turn improves their digestive health, thereby speeding up the healing process and allowing their body to absorb more nutrients.
The bakery was born after the owners decided to go on a gluten-free diet and found no suitable alternatives or similar concept in Kuwait. That's when Firin saw the light.
They started this 100% gluten free facility that caters to individuals looking for substitutes not found elsewhere. The bakery has a comprehensive menu of fares everything you can possibly think of from pitta, focaccia, sourdough rolls, pizza, fatayer, cakes, cookies, and even gluten-free pasta.
Every product is different, but all contain some combination of rice flour, tapioca flour, almond flour, and potato starch as substitutes to gluten; and best of all everything tastes delicious!
For more information on Firin, the first gluten-free bakery in Kuwait, click here.
To learn more about Gluten and Celiac Disease, you can check out this report by Mayo-Clinic.
– Khaleejesque Staff
Images Courtesy of Firin
