Show #295 Airing Sunday, May 1, 2005
Mitochondrial Disease is a killer that affects more Americans than AIDS. Surprised you haven’t heard about it? Today we’ll see how a diagnosis of this progressive illness prompted one family to begin a crusade to raise public awareness. And they’re doing this with tomato sauce! Here with a “tasteful” explanation are Allen Segal, and Dana Bruck-Segal.
Question: What is mitochondrial disease? Is it common?
Answer: The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. It supplies the cell’s energy. In fact, 90% of the energy the body uses to sustain life comes from the mitochondria.
With mitochondrial disease, the mitochondria become sick and/or die. This causes cellular death, leading to organ and system failure throughout the body.
Symptoms are numerous and vary from patient to patient. They often include musculo/skeletal pain and weakness, a compromised immune system (increased susceptibility to infection), cardiac problems, gastrointestinal and pulmonary complications, visual impairment, inability to regulate body temperature, varied neurologic manifestations, etc.
The symptoms involve multiple organ systems and often present sequentially over several years. This often makes recognition and diagnosis difficult. It took doctors over 10 years to diagnose Barbara.
Mitochondrial Disease (Cytopathy) is as common as AIDS in the United States . In children, it’s more prevalent, and deadly, than childhood cancer. More than half of children who have Mitochondrial disease die before age 10.
Question: I understand that studying mitochondrial disease might lead to insight on treating/curing other diseases?
Answer: Yes. Mitochondrial dysfunction may help to explain diseases such as Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, even some kinds of cancer. There is recent data linking significant Mitochondrial abnormalities to diabetes and prostate cancer.
But it’s an “orphaned” disease. Very little research is being funded because it’s perceived as being uncommon.
Question: So what does tomato sauce have to do with mitochondrial disease?
Answer: Barbara can’t break down fat and is therefore on an extremely low-fat diet. She was prescribed this diet when she was very sick. She loves junk food, and at the time was just ready to give up. So Allen and Dana decided that they were going to help transform Barbara’s favorite dish, her spaghetti meat sauce, into a low-fat meal, by substituting soy for the meat. Additionally, it is very low in sugar (no sugar is added), and is high in protein as well as being fat free (0 Weight Watchers Points). To their surprise, it tasted great and everyone liked it.
Question: We have the opportunity to taste the sauce too, right? And help raise some money for mitochondrial disease research.
Answer: Allen and Dana came up with the idea to sell the sauce to increase hope and awareness and raise money for research to find a cure. One hundred percent (100%) of the profits is donated to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF). A friend of the Bruck-Segal’s lives next door to Tom Heinen. After tasting the sauce, he agreed to carry the product.
It’s currently sold at Heinen’s, West Point Market, and other venues in the U.S. Tomato Face Sauce is presently being served in several schools (Food Service) , such as Laurel School (Dana’s school), University School, Western Reserve Academy, and Gilmore.
Question: How did you get the name “tomato face”?
Answer: Dana came up with the name. She was so sick of hearing talk about tomato sauce, she said “You’re such a tomato face!” to her mom. They all looked at each other and thought, “That’s the name!” organs and systems to die. Then people die.
Mitochondrial Disease is a killer that’s often over-looked and mis-diagnosed. You can help fight this disease, and enjoy good, healthy food at the same time. Check out Tomato Face sauce at your local Heinen’s supermarket. My thanks to Barbara, Allen, and Dana.
