As a deaf nutritionist, I’m passionate about supporting women in midlife and bridging the accessibility gap

‘I’ve always had a healthy lifestyle, but it was during my early-to-mid forties that I really felt the impact of stress on my wellbeing. Between the pandemic, juggling work, parenting my son (who was a baby at the time) and everything in between, I found myself feeling quite low and like I’d lost my zest for life.

Plus, I’d noticed a few perimenopause symptoms starting to creep in – things like brain fog, anxiety and out-of-the-blue bloating – which stress seemed to trigger or make worse. I remember the odd period of night sweats and hot flushes, too. I’d be fast asleep, then suddenly that heat would take over and I’d be throwing off the duvet, exclaiming “I’m so boiling!” to my surprised husband.

In my career as a registered nutritional therapist, I specialise in perimenopause and work mostly with women between 40 and 60, so I’m able to understand and connect with what they’re going through. There can almost be this sense of your life turning upside down. A lot of the time, people just want to feel better and more positive; they want to age well, think clearly and understand what’s happening in their bodies. That was definitely true for me.

Taking control of my stress levels has helped to improve my symptoms massively. For me, that’s practising mindfulness, more selfcare, taking breaks and soaking up time with family and friends. I also love swimming, Pilates and going for walks with my sister’s dog, as well as filling a diffuser with uplifting essential oils – lemongrass and lavender are two favourites. Meal planning is a great time (and headspace) saver, too. In the rush of daily life, sometimes it’s about telling myself: ‘I just have to let go’. These days, my anxiety has improved a lot; that cloudy brain fog has eased; and my hot flushes haven’t made an appearance since last summer.

Nutrition wise, I eat a balanced Mediterranean-style diet, which I suspect makes a big difference as well. It’s things like lots of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, fish and healthy fats, while also allowing yourself the freedom to eat the birthday cake, have a glass of wine at a party and relax without guilt. That mental side is very important, because the brain and the gut work so closely together. I want people to feel confident in trying new foods, too, whether it’s a different grain or something like sauerkraut for a dose of gut-boosting probiotics. Those small tweaks can be so powerful – even try skipping the sugar in your next cup of coffee or tea.

As somebody who is deaf and fluent in British Sign Language (BSL), I’m passionate about making this sort of health and nutrition information more accessible – many of my clients are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. When I was studying for my qualification, I was the only d/Deaf person there and the teachers had no experience of how to support a d/Deaf student. They tried to help, and I managed, but it wasn’t easy. Not only was I wrapped up in learning for this already-difficult course, but I had the extra burden of basically educating them on what I needed. So, I know how it feels not to have access to information.

A few examples of the barriers and challenges that people might face? Perhaps your GP refers you to a course or resource, but it’s not available in sign language and doesn’t have subtitles. Maybe there’s an article or book that you want to read about, say, menopause, but you can’t understand parts of it because English is your second language and sign language is your first. I can speak and read lips, but not everybody does that.

People come to me because they know they can communicate without stress and have the confidence to ask questions. That’s also why I created my monthly membership hub, NutriDeaf, which serves up nutrition tips on different topics, ‘ask me anything’ sessions, foodie workshops, cook-alongs, recipes, social events and more – all in an accessible way.

I’d love to see more subtitles, sign language and visual aids used on social media as well as offline; it’s about that awareness. If you’re a health professional, it could be a case of typing to communicate during somebody’s appointment; being mindful of a room’s lighting so your face is totally visible; and making sure you speak clearly and don’t mumble. There are some great d/Deaf and hearing loss organisations that offer free support and services, so they can also be a good first port of call.

As for what the future holds? I’d love to continue working with both the d/Deaf and hearing communities, bridging the gap and breaking down those barriers. Personally, I feel good at the moment – although who knows how any symptoms might shift in a few years’ time! Still, I’m very positive about approaching my 50s and believe mindset is so powerful. You can’t stop ageing, so you might as well embrace it. I’m excited for what lies ahead.’

 To find out more about Naomi’s work and NutriDeaf, head to naomigoldman.com and @naomigoldman4nutrition  on Instagram

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