Prostate health: prevention and advice

Updated on 2025-11-11

Summary: Prostate health: prevention and advice

In her health column, Lynn Goneau, naturopath at La Boite à Grains, discusses men's health in November, including prostate health. She explains that this gland, often prone to inflammation after the age of 40, can lead to a variety of urinary and sexual symptoms.

To prevent problems and reduce the risk of cancer, she recommends several key nutrients: lycopene from cooked tomatoes, zinc from pumpkin seeds, selenium from Brazil nuts, as well as vitamin D and omega-3s for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Lynn also stresses the importance of regular physical activity, which helps maintain good prostate health and reduce overall inflammation.

1. Understanding the prostate and its disorders

• Walnut-sized gland located under the bladder.
• Tendency to enlarge with age (inflammation from age 40).

• Symptoms: difficulty urinating, weak stream, frequent urges, sexual problems.

2. Protective nutrients

• Lycopene (cooked tomatoes, tomato sauce): powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer.
• Zinc (organic pumpkin seeds, unsalted): slows the growth of prostate cells.
• Selenium (3 Brazil nuts a day): reduces the risk of cancer by up to 60%.

3. Additional support

• Vitamin D Preventive effect, supports immunity and hormonal balance.

• Omega-3 Anti-inflammatory properties essential for men's health.

4. Lifestyle and prevention

• Regular exercise (brisk walking 3-4 times a week) reduces pain, inflammation and hormonal risks.

• Possible consultation with Lynn Goneau via the La Boite à Grains for personalized care.

About the author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specialized in :

• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Stress and fatigue
• Memory and concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host at 104.7 FM

Host of the 104.7 FM radio station on the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson has hosted L'Outaouais Maintenant from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcription

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

November. It's an important month for men's health. Yes, we're talking about prostate cancer and male disease awareness, but we're also talking about mental health. And that's the theme of her column today, written by Lynn Goneau naturopath at La Boite à Grains. Hello Lynn.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Hello Fred. 

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Let's start by talking about the prostate, because it's a major cancer in men.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, and before you get to cancer, there are a number of symptoms, but the first thing to understand is the prostate. What it is, in fact, is a gland about the size of a walnut. It's located just below the bladder. From the age of forty onwards, the prostate tends to increase in volume. So the key word here is inflammation.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Exactly. King Charles had this.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes indeed.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Lots of men in their 50s and 60s.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

That's right. Because when you're in your fifties, it will affect about 50% of men.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

One of the first symptoms is that you have to force yourself to pee.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, difficulty urinating or a constant need to urinate with incomplete emptying of the bladder. This can mean getting up several times during the night if you see it often to urinate, because you can't completely empty your bladder, or low urinary stream pressure.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

And it doesn't come out loud.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

It's not like when we were young, that's for sure.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

No, we understand. But the prostate being bigger, what does it crush?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Exactly. The jet is less easy to get through. Yes, it even leads to sexual problems. Sexual function, at the level of erection, then evacuation.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Well, you can panic, of course, or you can help yourself with food, among other things. Now you're going to teach me all about tomatoes. I didn't know that.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Tomatoes because they're a derivative, or even all their derivatives, tomato concentrates or tomato sauces because they contain lycopene. Lycopene is a red plant pigment which is ultimately responsible for the color of many fruits and vegetables. But it's also a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage caused by the notorious free radicals.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That make our cells age.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

And that's it. Then there, they showed, there are many, many studies suggesting that regular consumption of lycopene was associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

I was told that the tomato paste had to be cooked.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains: Yes, tomato paste or tomatoes, it's good to put them in a pan and then cook them with a little fat, like olive oil. Because lycopene is a fat-soluble nutrient, it's better absorbed.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

So that's lycopene, tomatoes and their derivatives. There's also zinc.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, found in the famous pumpkin seeds. I like it because it's easy to eat. It helps limit prostate cell growth while increasing urinary flow. Is that okay?

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Yes. Is pumpkin seed butter good too?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Not as effective. I'd really just go with the seeds as such, because there's a very, very strong antioxidant property, but also anti-inflammatory which research will show that 75% of men who suffer from prostate problems are zinc deficient.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That's interesting. Yes. So we buy organic seeds, I guess.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, it's important. Organic, not roasted, not salted. And you can eat them and make them, depending on what? You only mix them if you put them like in your oatmeal, in your shake or just as a snack, I like them like that.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

I know, selenium is your third favorite food.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, it's an important mineral with great antioxidant power. But studies show that antioxidants easily found in fruit and vegetables reduce the risk of prostate cancer by up to 60%. My personal way of getting selenium is to eat three Brazil nuts a day. And that's it. That's all there is to it.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

It's true that if you eat too much of it, it's toxic. Someone told me that no more than three or four can be toxic.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

That would be another subject. But basically, I don't need to eat more than three to really get the amount I need.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

For the past month, I've been taking 10,000 units of vitamin D a day. People tell me that's a lot, but there are a lot of studies showing that a guy like me who never goes outside can help. And I'm feeling a little better too, because I'm taking vitamin D to help my prostate.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

That's for sure. For sure, vitamin D, it has many roles, but it really has a direct association with prostate cancer or the reduction of cancer or the possibility of cancer.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

I understand that you're not allowed to diagnose, no, but to each his own.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, and because we don't all absorb the same way. It depends on whether you're out in the sun, etc. So D is very, very, very important. The percentage of it that you can get or absorb depends from one individual to another. This means that regular consumption is important, precisely because it has a major anti-inflammatory impact. Then there's one I haven't mentioned yet that I'd like to add. It's omega-3 for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

We can help ourselves too. When you have maybe, you fear prostate problems. You can help yourself with physical activity.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

It's very, very important because it's one of the best ways to keep your prostate healthy. It helps reduce pain by producing anti-inflammatory substances, and it reduces the production of hormones that play a role in prostate cancer. Ah well, it's a must. You don't have to become a professional athlete. We're talking about power walking at least three or four times a week.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Well, that's interesting. Now, if we want to see you for a consultation, what do we do?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

All contact details are on the La Boite à Grains. It's easy enough to reach me with a quick e-mail, then I'll tell you my availability, and we'll talk.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Thank you very much, Madame Goneau. We'll talk again next week.