25 Health Problems That Start With Your Thyroid

Though the thyroid gland is small, it needs to function properly in order for the body to perform basic functions. Located in the neck, the thyroid secretes hormones that assist in the regulation of everything from your heart to your reproductive organs—and with too much or too little of these thyroid hormones, it’s almost impossible to stay healthy.

The sad reality is many people in America suffer from thyroid disease. According the American Thyroid Association, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. Many of the health problems associated with thyroid disorders are easy to overlook or blame on something else, but it’s important to consider this small gland. Here, we’ve rounded up some medical complications that might be stemming from your thyroid.


1 Irregular Periods
If you experience irregular periods with no known explanation, you should ask your doctor to check your thyroid hormone levels. According to the U.S. Department of Health’s Office on Women’s Health, having too much or too little thyroid hormone can result in unusually light, unusually heavy, or irregular periods, seeing as your thyroid assists in the regulation of your menstrual cycle.


2 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Though the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have long been unknown, researchers recently discovered a link between the debilitating condition and lower levels of certain thyroid hormones. In one study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, scientists concluded that patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome had lower levels of two key thyroid hormones—triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)—compared to those without the sleep-related syndrome. The researchers believe that these decreased hormone levels could be contributing to CFS symptoms.


3 Anxiety
For years, doctors haven’t been able to explain to their patients why they’re dealing with anxiety disorders that don’t get better with treatment—until now, that is. According to one study published in May in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, there is a strong link between anxiety disorders and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), which is also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It makes sense, since inflammation of the thyroid gland messes with the body’s hormones and in turn, can cause mental instability.


4 Depression
In the same JAMA Psychiatry study, researchers found that the same mechanisms that cause patients with autoimmune thyroiditis to develop anxiety disorders can also lead to depression. In fact, the numbers showed that people with autoimmune thyroiditis are approximately 3.5 times more likely to suffer from depression as a result of their condition.


5 Irregular Heartbeat
Your heart plays a vital part in controlling the health of every other organ in your body, so it’s important that you take good care of it. One easy way to protect your heart is by paying attention to the levels of the thyroid hormone called free thyroxine, or FT4, in your bloodstream. One study published in the journal Circulation found that having unusually high levels of FT4 could be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat.


6 Infertility
For many women, infertility issues stem from thyroid issues. Since the thyroid is so closely connected to the distribution of sex hormones, any irregularities in your thyroid hormone levels can result in issues with ovulation and, thusly, getting pregnant.


7 Dry Skin
Hypothyroidism—which is an underactive thyroid that doesn’t produce enough hormones—can cause dry skin. “Other skin changes can be seen at times, such as decreased sweating and coarse skin. These symptoms all occur when the regulatory hormones produced by the thyroid decrease or disappear,” Matilda Nicholas, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Duke Health explained to Everyday Health. Dry skin in patients with hypothyroidism is very common—one study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology found that a whopping 100 percent of patients with hypothyroidism experienced it.


8 Weight Gain
For many people suffering from thyroid issues, one of the first signs that something is amiss is unexplained weight gain. That’s because, according to the American Thyroid Association, thyroid hormones play a major role in the regulation of metabolic rates. Both low and high levels of thyroid hormones can mess with BMR, or the state of your metabolism when at rest.

9 Constipation
According to Harvard Health, hypothyroidism can also lead to constipation. However, since bowel movement issues are indicative of so many other health problems, people far too often miss the relationship between their thyroid and bowels.


10 Memory Issues
Research published in the journal Thyroid concluded that “hypothyroidism in adults causes significant reduction in the volume of the right hippocampus.” This is significant because the hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for short- and long-term memory. Therefore, a reduction in volume of this area is associated with debilitating memory issues.


11 High Blood Sugar
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, and hypothyroidism go hand-in-hand. When Indian researchers studied hemoglobin A1c levels (HBA1c) in diabetics, they found that those who also had hypothyroidism had higher levels of the protein associated with high blood sugar. But there is a silver lining to this news: When the researchers treated the diabetic patients with thyroid hormone replacement, they found that their HBA1c levels dropped significantly.

12 Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells in the body available for transporting oxygen to the body’s tissues. There are many causes of anemia, including profuse bleeding and iron deficiency. But recently, researchers concluded that abnormal thyroid hormone levels can potentially cause anemia as well.


13 High Blood Pressure
According to the American Thyroid Association, hyperthyroidism—which is an overactive thyroid that produces too much of the hormone thyroxine—can result in many heart health problems, one of which is hypertension (AKA high blood pressure). Ignoring this issue can result in everything from strokes to blood clots. 

14 Heart Failure
In serious cases, the heart problems associated with hyperthyroidism can lead to heart failure and, ultimately, death. On the bright side, though, studies show that the risk of heart failure decreases significantly when patients with hyperthyroidism are actively treating their condition. That’s just another reason why any potential thyroid problems should never go neglected!

15 Liver Abnormalities
The American Thyroid Association reports that hyperthyroidism, as well as the medications that treat the condition, can mess with the liver’s ability to do its job. When antithyroid medications negatively affect the liver, alternative treatments, like radioactive iodine therapy and surgery, come into play to avoid further damage.

16 Hip Fractures
Thyroid problems are just as dangerous to the outside of your body as they are to the inside. One meta-analysis of more than 70,000 subjects published in JAMA concluded that even mild cases of hyperthyroidism can put people more at risk for hip, spine, and other fractures.

17 Kidney Disease
When researchers from the American Society of Nephrology studied patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), they found that the lower a person’s kidney function was, the higher their risk for subclinical hypothyroidism was. In fact, the study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, concluded that patients with CKD were 73 percent more likely than healthy individuals to have hypothyroidism, thus showing a solid link between kidney disease and thyroid issues.

18 Mood Swings
Often times an underactive thyroid will also result in moodiness. That’s because hypothyroidism affects the thalamus, the part of the brain responsible for processing information, and thusly, that affects emotions.

19 Excessive Sweating
One of the many causes of secondary generalized hyperhidrosis—or excessive sweating on large areas of the body—is an overactive thyroid. While this condition isn’t life-threatening, it is quite uncomfortable, and people who suffer from it tend to seek out treatment just to relieve their discomfort.


20 Goiters
If you notice swelling on your neck, that could be a sign of a thyroid problem. A goiter, as pictured above, is an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland that can be visible at the base of your neck. Though goiters are usually painless, they can also cause breathing issues and swallowing problems. So you need to treat the underlying cause of the thyroid problem that’s resulting in the goiter.

21 Cold Intolerance
If you know someone with an underactive thyroid, make sure they don’t go outside in the winter without the proper cold weather gear. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the side effects and symptoms of having hypothyroidism is an intolerance to cold.


22 Muscle Weakness
One of the many diseases caused by hyperthyroidism is hyperthyroid myopathy. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, slowed-down reflexes, and painful cramps. It most commonly affects the muscles around the shoulders and the hips.

23 Vision Loss
The same antibodies that attack the thyroid gland in Graves’ disease—an autoimmune problem that leads to hyperthyroidism—can also attack eye tissue and cause everything from swelling to vision loss. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, there are three times as many women than men suffering from thyroid-related eye disorders, and these issues tend to occur around the age of 45.

24 Osteoporosis
When hyperthyroidism goes untreated, it can lead to osteoporosis, a condition that thins out the bones and makes them more vulnerable to injuries and breaks. In severe cases, people with osteoporosis have such weak bones that even coughing can crack a rib.


25 Obesity
Because thyroid issues mess with the metabolism, many individuals who don’t produce the right amount of thyroid hormones end up becoming obese. That can, in turn, lead to issues related to obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease.

From hummus to olive tapenade and guacamole: The fatty, sugary truth about those 'healthy' dips

Hummus, olive tapenade and guacamole may seem equally healthy choices, but not all dips are equal in calories and fat.

‘They can vary tenfold in their calorie content,’ says registered dietitian Helen Bond. 

‘A typical tomato salsa has 50 calories per 100g, while taramasalata could be 500 calories or more per 100g. Serve it using a tablespoon — roughly 20g — and have no more than a couple.’

What you eat with them matters, too. 

A handful of vegetable sticks adds around ten calories and can turn a dip into one of your five-a-day — but crisps can add 125 calories,’ says Helen, who assesses 12 popular dips here. We then rated each of them out of ten. 

OCADO GOLD KALAMATA BLACK OLIVE TAPENADE

150g, £1.77

Per 100g: calories, 221; saturated fat, 2.7g; protein, 1.7g; sugar, trace; salt, 3.9g

Olives and olive oil make up more than 85 per cent of this, providing healthy monounsaturated fats that lower cholesterol, and vitamin E that protects cells against damage. 

If you stick with 20g, providing an eighth of your daily salt limit, and eat with celery or carrot sticks, it’s a good choice; any more, and the salt mounts up.

Taste: Rich, salty olive flavour.

RATING: 7/10 

TRACKLEMENTS SMOKED CHIPOTLE SALSA 

220g, £2.89 Per 100g: calories, 98; saturated fat, 0.5g; protein, 1.4g; sugar, 10.8g; salt, 1.3g

Red peppers, onions and tomatoes dominate this salsa, which is flavoured with smoked chipotle chillies.

The salsa supplies vitamin C and lycopene — the red pigment in tomatoes that has been linked with a lower risk of stroke and prostate cancer. Four tablespoons count as one of your five-a-day and the product is low in fat and calories. But it has added sugar, like most of the dips here — roughly half a teaspoon in a 20g serving. It’s also relatively high in salt.

Taste: Sweet and smoky with a nice heat.

RATING 4/10

HOLY MOLY SMASHED AVOCADO

150g, £2.79

Per 100g: calories, 160; saturated fat, 2g; protein, 2g; sugar, 1g; salt, 0g

This is 100 per cent avocado, so you could make your own more cheaply. It is healthy — avocado is rich in monounsaturated fats, said to reduce heart disease risk, and the dip has no added sugar or salt. 

You’d need to eat 80g — just over half the pot — for it to count as one of your five-a-day; this will also supply nearly 20 per cent of your recommended daily fibre and 21 per cent of your daily vitamin E.

Taste: Velvet-smooth, buttery avocado.

RATING 9/10

WHERE THE RIVER BENDS JALOPENO, CORIANDER AND LEMON PEA DIP  

150g, £2.79

Per 100g: calories, 160; saturated fat, 2g; protein, 2g; sugar, 1g; salt, 0g

This is 100 per cent avocado, so you could make your own more cheaply. It is healthy — avocado is rich in monounsaturated fats, said to reduce heart disease risk, and the dip has no added sugar or salt. 

You’d need to eat 80g — just over half the pot — for it to count as one of your five-a-day; this will also supply nearly 20 per cent of your recommended daily fibre and 21 per cent of your daily vitamin E.

Taste: Velvet-smooth, buttery avocado.

RATING 7/10

OCADO GOLD BEETROOT AND MINT DIP

150g, £1.77

Per 100g: calories, 122; saturated fat, 5.2g; protein, 3.6g; sugar, 5.2g; salt, 1g

This is made with 39 per cent beetroot, plus full-fat yoghurt and soft cheese. Beetroot is rich in nitrates, compounds linked to reduced blood pressure, though the research is based on far greater quantities — a few cups of beetroot juice a day, perhaps. 

A 40g serving of the dip will provide a little bone-friendly calcium from the full-fat dairy, but also nearly 10 per cent of your daily saturated fat limit, too.

Taste: Fresh and minty but a bit runny.

RATING 3/10 

A LITTLE BIT FOOD COMPANY: THYME AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH DIP

200g, £3.95

Per 100g: calories, 142; saturated fat, 0.8g; protein, 0.9g; sugar, 5.6g; salt, 0.8g

Butternut squash, which makes up 42 per cent of this dip, is a good source of vitamin A, important for skin and eyes. 

This contains negligible added sugar and only 5 per cent of your daily limit of salt in a two-tablespoon serving. Other ingredients include onion, rapeseed oil, apple cider vinegar and yellow pepper; yellow peppers provide three times the vitamin C of oranges.

Taste: Sweet but vinegary.

RATING: 8/10 

 MR ORGANIC RED CHILLI & GINGER SALSA

200g, £2.49 Per 100g: calories, 129; saturated fat, 1.7g; protein, 1.9g; sugar, 8.4g; salt, 0.8g

Tomatoes make up 80 per cent of this salsa, and 100g (5 tbsp) will count as one of your five-a-day. But because of the added sugar — about a quarter of a teaspoon per tablespoon serving — this wouldn’t be a great idea. 

The dip contains the antioxidant lycopene, which needs some fat to be absorbed properly, supplied here by sunflower oil, which is also a source of vitamin E. There is too little ginger to do anything but add flavour.

Taste: Less chunky than most salsas, but the ginger really comes through. 

RATING 7/10 

MOORISH GARLIC AIOLI WITH SICILLIAN LEMON

150g, £1.99

Per 100g: calories, 556; saturated fat, 4.2g; protein, 0.5g; sugar, 1g; salt, trace

The suggested 50g serving supplies a whopping 278 calories and 10 per cent of your daily saturated fat limit. The culprit is full-fat mayonnaise, which is 92 per cent of the dip. Garlic purée and lemon juice make up 4 per cent each. 

The WHO recommends 2g to 5g garlic daily: it’s rich in the antioxidant allicin, thought to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, but it would be much better to have garlic cooked in a healthy meal.

Taste: Strongly garlicky.

RATING 1/10

THE VEGGIE PLOT CUCUMBER AND DILL SAVORY YOGURT 

150g, £1.79

Per 100g: calories, 58; saturated fat, 0.2g; protein, 9.2g; sugar, 1.7g; salt, 0.1g

This is just Greek yoghurt, cucumber and dill. You could have a half pot (75g) because it’s so low in calories and saturated fat. This would provide around 12 per cent of your daily calcium, good for bones, plus 20 per cent of the iodine needed for a healthy thyroid gland. 

There’s no added salt and if you eat it with a handful of vegetables or wholegrain breadsticks to top up your fibre, it’s a healthy snack with good amounts of satiating protein.

Taste: Like a herby tzatziki.

RATING: BEST PICK 

SABRA BABA GANOUSH AUBERGINE & TAHINI DIP

200g, £1.99

Per 100g: calories: 251; saturated fat, 2.8g; protein, 3.9g; sugar, 2.5g; salt, 1.6g

Aubergines — 41 per cent of this dip — are rich in anthocyanins, compounds in purple-skinned plants that may play a role in keeping arteries healthy. The saturated fat content isn’t low but is balanced by lots of unsaturated fats, important for heart health, which are supplied by the tahini (sesame paste). 

Tahini is also a valuable source of anaemia-protective iron, with about 5 per cent of your daily needs in two tablespoons of the dip, and about a tenth of your daily salt limit.

Taste: Creamy and smoky.

RATING 6/10 

ORGANICO SPRING ARTICHOKE DIP

140g, £3.10

Per 100g: calories, 149; saturated fat, 1.5g; protein, 1.4g; sugar, trace; salt, 2g

Made with 60 per cent artichokes plus onions, olive oil, herbs and lemon — although the fact they are organic won’t add anything nutritionally. Artichokes are a good source of the B vitamin folate and magnesium (two nutrients lacking in many diets), which can help reduce tiredness and fatigue. 

On the downside, this dip is high in salt, supplying an eighth of your daily limit in just two tablespoons (40g).

Taste: Delicate and fresh.

RATING 4/10

WAITROSE WORLD DELI CHARRED CORN CRUSH

160g, £2.60

Per 100g: calories, 133; saturated fat, 3.2g; protein, 4g; sugar, 4.4g; salt. 0.9g

This sweetcorn and cannellini bean dip topped with black turtle beans and red pepper feels more indulgent than the calorie count would indicate, though the suggested 80g serving should be your limit, as it contains 13 per cent of your daily saturated fat and 12 per cent of your daily salt (also 10 per cent of your daily fibre needs, which is a plus). 

Corn, the main ingredient, is rich in zeaxanthin and lutein, which may help protect eyes from UV damage.

Taste: Sweet and creamy.

RATING 8/10

Could receipts cause cancer? Scientists warn 90% of the papers doled out by shops 'contain hormone-disrupting chemicals thought to be carcinogenic'

Up to 90 per cent of receipts contain cancer-causing chemicals, experts have warned. 

Receipts which use ink that fade over time are made with 'thermal paper' which contains BPA (bisphenolA).

Studies have shown the chemical can lead to hormone-dependent cancers, and has previously been linked to infertility, autism, ADHD, obesity, type 2 diabetes, premature births and early onset of puberty.

There are already concerns about the public being exposed to BPA, which is often found in plastics.

We should avoid storing receipts in purses, wallets, or cars, according to Professor Nicolás Olea, from the University of Granada, Spain.

BPA is added to receipts to make their writing darker without using ink, and is also found in plastic water bottles and food containers.

International researchers, led by the University of Granada, analysed 112 thermal paper receipts and tickets from Brazil, Spain and France. 

'We can recognize this kind of paper because it instantly turns black if we put it close to a heat source like, for example, a match,' Professor Olea said

More than 90 per cent of the receipts collected in Brazil and Spain had BPA - but only half of the receipts collected in France presented BPA, the findings, published in Environmental Research, showed.

The French government has taken action to the reduction of the use of that chemical compound in thermal paper since 2014.

The researchers warn that we should be careful about handling the receipts. 

'For example, tickets should not get in contact with food – for instance, meat or fish – while unpacking it in the kitchen,' Professor Olea said. 

'Moreover, we should not crumple the tickets to throw them in the trash, play with them, write notes on them, or store them in cars, purses or handbags.

'In short, we should manipulate this kind of tickets as little as possible.

'They are easily identified by the customer since they are those receipts that, after some time, lose what they have printed on them and, when you are going to return the trousers you bought, the cashiers tell you that they cannot see anything.

'Very often, the only thing you find is a fine white powder that comes off when taking them out of the handbag or purse. BPA is, precisely, that white powder that sticks to your fingers.'  

Scientists have sought alternatives to gradually replace BPA in an array of items.

BPS was designed as a replacement after mounting concerns over the plastic compound's effect on human health.

France has used BPS as a replacement in its receipts. 

However, scientists aren't on board with this chemical either, believing that BPS is also a hormone disruptor.

'Unfortunately, BPS is also an endocrine disruptor, and its environmental persistence is greater than that of BPA, so it's not a valid option,' Professor Oleo said.

The researchers suggested people 'reject' paper receipts until public health measures are taken, noting that the Spanish government promised to remove BPA from its receipts by 2020.

Similar findings were published by Michigan-based non-profit organisation The Ecology Center in January 2018.

The team analysed 207 paper receipts from a variety of businesses collected between January and April 2017, including nationwide grocery and homeware stores, gas stations, theaters, libraries and small independent businesses. 

Past research reveals cashiers and waiting staff can handle as many as 30 receipts an hour, and after a shift, have significantly higher BPA and BPS levels in their blood and urine than the average person.  

'The protection of hundreds of thousands of young people working as cashiers in supermarkets and other stores is not as strictly implemented as it should,' Professor Oleo added. 

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR BPA AND BPS RECEIPT EXPOSURE 

More than 90 percent of receipts contain BPA, research in January 2018 from the Michigan-based non-profit organisation The Ecology Center found.

The researchers recommend people reduce their BPA or BPS receipt exposure by:

• Choosing electronic receipts if available
• Folding receipts so the printed side is facing inwards. The back is not typically coated in chemicals
• Keeping an envelope in their wallets to place receipts. This avoids them rubbing against money
• Not handing receipts to children
• Washing their hands after touching receipts
• Disposing of receipts in the trash over recycling to avoid contaminating recycled paper
• Cashiers should only print receipts when asked, wear gloves, wash their hands thoroughly and avoid touching their mouths 

50 Things You Should Toss from Your House After Turning 50

1

Chipped dishes

It’s not just about appearances; there’s a more sinister reason to ditch your chipped or cracked plates. With each wash, water seeps into the cracks and can lead to some really nasty bacteria growth. What’s more, if you use these plates in the microwave, the cracks can deepen, which makes the bacteria grows faster. And you needn’t break the bank on a new set of flatware. Pretty much every store these days sells affordable options. 

2

Hand-me-down furniture

That couch or easy chair your parents gave you when you moved into your first apartment should be long gone by now. Not just because it probably looks horrific—which is a bad look even if its confined to a basement rec room—but because it’s also probably doing real damage to your spine every time you sit on it.

3

DVDs of movies you don’t love

We understand the joys of movie collecting. Like books, there’s something about filling a shelf with DVDs of your favorite film classics that just feels satisfying. But it might be time to review those movies and par down your collection. Are you sure you absolutely love everything in there? Some of those movies you’ll return to time and time again, like The Godfather or The Empire Strikes Back. And some—like, oh, Weekend at Bernie’s II—you may have picked up at a discount bin, and there’s little or no chance you’ll be watching them anytime soon. Do the right thing and thin the DVD herd.

4

Spices

All jarred spices begin to lose their potency after approximately six months. They also accumulate quite a bit of dust—and not on the jar. Dust settles in with the spice itself. You can continue to use spices for up to three years, but the taste will change. If you only need cumin once a year to make chili, toss the old jar and invest the $4 in some fresh cumin for next year’s July Fourth cook-off.

5

Old Hairbrushes

That old hairbrush you’ve been using forever is way too old. Some experts insist you should replace it every six to 12 months. Hair gets more brittle with age, so replacing the brush will help prevent breakage. Also, an old hairbrush is holding on to more gross stuff than you realize. One University of Arizona study found that hair brushes used by women between the ages of 18 and 24 had more than 3,400 different types of bacteria per square inch.

6

A mattress older than a teenager

A really high-end mattress can last anywhere between 7 and 10 years, and if you really take care of it, even a few years past that. Once you get into teenage years—13 and older—your mattress is definitely in serious need of replacement. And not just because it’s not nearly as firm as it once was. Unless it’s been professionally sanitized, it contains a whole host of icky stuff, like dust mites and bodily fluids that we won’t explain in detail because we don’t want to ruin your day. Oh, and while you’re at it, This Is Why You Need to Change Your Pillow Immediately.

7

An empty beer or liquor bottle display

No one is impressed with your level of drinking. It doesn’t matter how cool or “vintage” the bottle is, it’s taking up space that could be occupied by something more meaningful than that local IPA you had once on a trip to California.

8

Flimsy flip flops

Flip flops are fine for the occasional vacation, but as a regular thing you wear on your feet, it’s a bad idea. “Flip-flops don’t offer any arch or heel support, and you have to grip them with your toes to keep them on,” podiatrist Dr. Christina S. Long said in an interview. “Wearing them for too long or for the wrong activity can cause a lot of different problems:” plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and, eventually, knee, ankle, and back issues. If your toes need to feel free, invest in some Birkenstocks or Tevas.

9

Your Towels

How old is your favorite bath towel, the one you use after every shower? If you’ve been using it for more than two years, it might be time to say goodbye. That’s around the time when most towels—especially well-loved towels that get used over and over again in a single week—start to lose their absorbency. And here’s a disgusting fact you probably didn’t want to know: skin particles become embedded in a towel after enough time. So basically, you’re rubbing old skin cells on your clean body. Blech! Ditch those towels and get a new set. Use the old ones for cleaning, or donate them to animal shelter.

10

Old magazines

Remember how you thought your grandfather was crazy for collecting all of those yellowing National Geographicmagazines in his garage? Well, at least he had an excuse. He lived in a non-digital age, when you couldn’t read pretty much anything that’s ever been written online, including old National Geographic magazines. You don’t have that excuse. If there’s a pile of New Yorkers or any other magazine taking up space in your home, and the month and year on the cover isn’t the month and year we’re currently living in, they’re long overdue for the recycling bin.

11

Pots and pans

When’s the last time you looked at the cooking surface of your favorite frying pan? Do you see a scrape on the non-stick surface? Time to toss and replace. And while you’re at it, evaluate what pans and pots you actually use. Just because it came in a set doesn’t mean you need to keep it. Most people do just fine in the kitchen with only a saucepan, a sauté pan, and a stockpot. Everything else is mostly superfluous.

12

Old cans of paint

Nobody throws away a can of paint. Even if they’ve finished their DIY project and they have no more use for it, they keep those cans in their basement for the next 10-plus years, because you never know when you might need a quarter-gallon of green paint. Get rid of it already! If it’s an oil-based paint, it’s got chemicals that could contaminate soil and water, so don’t just throw it in the trash and forget about it. Take it to your local hazardous waste facility.

13

Wire hangers

Even if you got them for free from a dry cleaner—actually, especially if you got them for free—your clothes deserve better. At 50, you’ve invested time and money into an adult’s wardrobe. It deserves more than wire hangers, which can cause stretch marks on clothes. A wooden hanger might take up more space, but they’re better for your clothes, as they more closely mimic the unique slope of a person’s shoulders. If an outfit has been hanging on a wire hanger versus a wooden one, you can absolutely tell the difference.

14

An ancient coffee maker

The glass carafe is so stained it’s almost brown, and the coffee always tastes like it was brewed at a gas station. Why are you still holding on to that old coffee maker? It’s not just the funky taste that should be an issue, the machine’s plastic could be shedding toxins into every pot. If you truly love coffee, invest in a machine like Nespresso or a glass Chemex.

15

Holiday and birthday cards

We know it can feel weird to throw out a birthday card, especially if it’s from a grandparent or someone really special in your life. But when you reach 50, you start to realize that your memories of a person aren’t contained in every piece of paper or cardboard they send to you. They’ll always be in your head and your heart, regardless of whether you still have a box full of old birthday cards you haven’t looked at since, well, your birthday.

16

Bank statements

Everything exists on the Internet now, including everything you could possibly need or want to know about your bank account. There’s absolutely no reason to fill your file cabinets with reams of old bank statements that you can easily access, with just the click of a computer key or tap of a smartphone screen, online at any time.

17

CDs

If you’ve got a soft spot for that killer mix created for you by an ex or your current partner, you don’t need to cling to those old CDs to keep that memory alive. Get this: the whole thing can all be recreated on Spotify. Most of us haven’t listened to an actual CD in years, we just keep moving that storage box full of CDs out of the way every year when we’re unloading the Christmas decorations box. Now is the time to upload those CDs to your music platform of choice and set yourself free.

18

Hotel amenities

It’s time to accept that all of those miniature hotel shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and tiny soaps you’ve been hoarding over the years, storing them in the back of a bathroom closet just in case you get guests who forgot to bring toiletries, will probably never be used. If you actually want to put them to good use, donate them to a homeless shelter, where they’ll be distributed as “hygiene kits” to people who really need them. Or better yet, Operation Care and Comfort has shipped more than 1,000,000 pounds of toiletries to the military, who’s always in need of donations.

19

Dilapidated sneakers

Just like a car starts to lose its value the moment you drive it off the lot, your sneakers or running shoes start to fall apart the moment they start pounding the pavement. If you’re really putting them through their paces, even the sturdiest of sneakers should only last four months, or around 500 miles of hard labor. And if you wear them as your everyday shoes, on top of exercise, they may not even last that long.

20

Vases for delivery flowers

The flowers were the gift, not the vase. Vases tend to be bulky and awkward—not the sort of thing you’ll use a second time. No reasonable person needs more than three vases: a small one, a medium one, and a large one. The rest should be donated to retirement homes or dropped off at Goodwill.

21

Business cards

Were you careful to save that accountant’s card from 2001? He has new ones—and probably a new number—by now. With email and texting, Vcards and DMs—not to mention that whole LinkedIn thing—the little paper cards are super-useless. Every junk drawer in America has at least one business card. If you do need it, then snap a picture or type the info into an email, spreadsheet, or your phone and toss the useless cardstock into the nearest recycling bin.

22

Broken umbrellas

Even if it’s only bent on the one side, it’s still broken. Invest in a nice umbrella that you keep either in your car, in your bag, or neatly in your closet, and get rid of the cheap freebies you’ve been hauling around for too many years.

23

Cookbooks you never use

The Great British Baking Show has inspired a lot of people to be more ambitious in the kitchen. And that’s fantastic…. except when it leads to more kitchen clutter. Let’s say you decided that this holiday you were finally going to make a Pavlova Fruit Tart. So you bought all the ingredients and the quintessential cookbook on meringue. But then time got away from you and you never got around to making it. Now you have a book that reminds you of something you didn’t do, and probably won’t ever do, staring you in the face every day. The local library would be a better place than your kitchen shelves for an unused cookbook that’s judging you for your culinary failures.

24

High school letterman jacket

Whether it was yours or given to you, you’re not going to wear it or use it. You won’t even wear it to an ’80s party because letterman jackets always look like they’re from the ’50s. If it means that much to you, take the letter off of the jacket and frame it. But put that jacket out of its misery and out of your space.

25

Holiday wrapping paper

If you have space in your crafting hut for wrapping paper—or for that matter, if you have a crafting hut—then fine, by all means, you have the storage to keep that paper until next year. But if you just keep shuffling it from year to year and closet to closet, shoving it into storage with all the ornaments, then it might be time to toss ‘em and reinvest next year. Your life is crowded enough, you don’t need four-foot tubes of paper covered in dancing gingerbread men taking up more space.

26

Last year’s calendar

You’re not up for a seat on the Supreme Court. You don’t need paper calendars clogging up shelves or file cabinets. And if you really want to remember your dentist appointment from 2014, just go digital with your calendar.

27

Mystery keys and locks

Your house and car keys should be on your key ring. Your neighbor’s keys, if they trusted you to keep a spare set, should be in a safe place. Your bike lock should be on your bike; your gym lock in your gym bag. Every other key and lock in your possession that doesn’t have a specific purpose needs to finally be cut loose. If you don’t know what the key unlocks or what the lock was intended for, you no longer need it. End of story.

28

Condiment packets

There’s being financially resourceful and then there’s being cheap. A collection of old condiment packages that you’ve accumulated over the years isn’t really saving you that much money, and it gives your refrigerator a college dorm room aesthetic. Seriously, it looks about as classy as saving old pizza delivery boxes to use as makeshift Tupperware.

29

Receipts

Your tax return receipts don’t need to be held onto for more than three years. After that, you’re literally being nostalgic for pieces of paper with numbers on them representing purchases you made in the distant past. Let it go. Nobody, least of all the IRS, is interested in your receipts from 20 years ago.

30

Appliance manuals

You know you have at least a few of them. In some drawer, you have old manuals for phones from 10 years ago, or printers you’ve long since replaced, or even vacuums that, at this point, you could operate with your eyes closed. Holding on to those yellowing documents makes about as much sense as filing away SAT sample questions because you never know when you’ll be taking the SAT again.

31

VHS tapes

The last VCR rolled off the assembly line on July 22nd, 2016. They don’t even make the players anymore. So unless you have sentimental reason for holding onto old VHS tapes—like, say, they contain old family movies—get rid of them. Even the special release collector editions that you thought would be sooo valuable someday, um… We’re not sure how to break this to you, but… They’re not. They won’t ever be. They’re just antiques gathering dust (and giving you an excuse to lecture young people about what life was like when Blockbuster ruled the world).

32

Office supplies

Whether you work from home or just want your home office to feel like a real office, there comes a time when everyone realizes, “Oh yeah, I don’t actually need Post-it notes or tape dispensers or binder clips or multiple staple removers or sticky tabs.”

33

Curtains from a former home

Window dimensions can be drastically different from house to house, and unless you have some sewing skills and know how to refashion a set of curtains for an entirely new window, it might be time to say goodbye to those old curtains. The rods could still work, but the fabric rarely does. For the cost of having your existing curtains professionally altered, you could just as easily order a new custom set.

34

Old cell phones

Nobody wants to throw away an old phone because we’re all terrified of identity theft, and we’re not entirely sure where it’s legal to dispose of them. So instead, they take up space in closets, in boxes full of all the other outdated tech no one knows what to do with.

First, it’s easy to wipe away your personal information on a phone; just use the “factory reset” option. Then, just make sure the SD and SIM cards are removed, and you’re ready to let that old thing go. The best way to recycle an old phone is to donate it. We’d suggest an organization like Cell Phones for Soldiers, who use proceeds from donated phones to provide troops overseas with prepaid international calling cards.

35

That wad of plastic grocery bags

It feels wasteful just to throw them away, and somewhere in the back of your mind you think you might use them again. Spoiler alert: You won’t. Even with the best of intentions, nobody remembers to grab those plastic bags before they head out for grocery shopping. Many stores are happy to take those bags back, but if not, recycle them and finally invest in a grocery tote.

36

Kitchen appliances you never use

Making a lot of french fries from scratch, are you? How about homemade ice cream? Paninis? How much rice are you making every year to justify the kitchen shelf, counter, or cabinet space taken up by a rice cooker? Complicated small appliances that have simpler solutions won’t get used. If you haven’t used a kitchen appliance more than once in the past six months, it’s time to either pass them along to someone who will or unload it at your local resale shop.

37

Three year-old sunscreen

According to the Mayo Clinic, most sunscreens can last up to three years. But beyond that, you’re taking some real risks with that leftover sunscreen. If you’re not sure how long you’ve had that bottle, you might want to play it safe and drop it in the trash. There are some things worth penny-pinching, but protecting yourself against skin cancer, especially in your 50s, isn’t one of them.

38

Neglected musical instruments

By the time we reach 50, the number of people who still play the musical instrument they learned in their teens cuts in half, according to statistical data. If that guitar or trumpet you loved in high school is just gathering dust, it’s time to give up the ghost. Hoarding something you have no intention of playing is just denying the chance for somebody else to discover it. There are many charities that would be happy to take your donated instrument, including one that helps bring music to the lives of military veterans.

39

Board games with missing pieces

Whether it’s a missing revolver card in Clue or a suspicious lack of hundred dollar bills in Monopoly, board games with missing pieces don’t just make gameplay more challenging—they ruin the entire game. If you ever find yourself saying, “Hold on, I’ll just borrow the dice from Yahtzee,” the universe is telling you something: Buy… another… game.

40

Plastic utensils

Maybe they came with takeout food and somehow ended up in your utensil drawer. However they got there, you need to finally set them free. If you don’t already have some high-end eating utensils, the kind that don’t look like they belong at a child’s birthday party, turning 50 is the perfect excuse to finally make your kitchen look like an adult cooks there.

41

The giveaway t-shirt you’ve never worn

We all have at least one of these, whether it’s a promotional shirt from a local radio station that we got at a summer carnival, or a commemorative shirt from an office team building event that’s either two sizes too big or small for you. You’ve held on to it all these years because… why, exactly? You don’t have to keep moving it to the side in your drawer as you look for a shirt you actually want to wear. Take it out of its misery and donate it to someone in need.

42

Encyclopedias

We have a soft spot for encyclopedias too. They were the Google of yesteryear. If they’re a handcrafted set handed down from generation to generation in your family and you have special shelves to display them, by all means, hold onto those tomes. But if it’s just the Britannica from your childhood bedroom, it’s time to open that space up. You can replace them with a little thing called Google, which takes up exactly zero space in your home.

43

Tupperware containers missing their lid

It’s time to accept this cold, hard fact. You’re never going to find those lids. They’re long gone, along with the missing socks that you keep hoping will turn up so you can reunite them with their twin.

44

Books you don’t love

We have to respectfully disagree with Marie Kondo’s argument that 30 books is enough. There’s no reason to have such strict limits on the number of books in your library. But you should take a more critical eye to the books you’ve been hanging onto over the years. The books that shaped you as a person and are reminders of why literature can be so meaningful, you can and should hang onto those.

But the books you’ve held onto from school, the ones you kinda read but not really, and the books a distant relative gave you as a birthday gift because “You like mysteries, right?” Those can go. If your neighborhood has one of those little free library boxes, that’s a great place to help your unloved books find another home. Or give them to your local library, retirement home, or veterans’ hospital.

45

Unused exercise equipment

We applaud your commitment to get healthy and start exercising more. But if your treadmill or stationary bike has been sitting unused in the guest bedroom for longer than you can remember, and it’s been used primarily for hanging wet laundry to dry, it might be time to set those machines out to pasture.

46

Random items in your freezer

That includes the open bag of frostbitten peas and the half-used (and mostly smashed) bag of tater tots buried under last summer’s popsicle remnants. Toss it all. That cauliflower pizza crust you thought was brilliant idea last May? That can go too. Or the frozen curry your neighbor dropped off months ago? Gone. It’s time to make room for quality meat, fancy ice cube trays for amazing cocktails, and some actually fresh bags of peas and tater tots.

47

Pens

Here’s a fun weekend activity: collect every pen or marker in the house. Check every desk, purse, jacket pocket, or kitchen drawer where they might be hiding. You’ll probably be shocked at the volume. Then get a notebook and test each and every pen, and throw out the ones that aren’t working. The pens that remain should get filed in one place, perhaps in a plastic storage organizer which you can get on the cheap for less than ten bucks.

48

Your toothbrush

You can argue to keep some things for sentimentality, but a toothbrush isn’t one of them. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush at least once every three months. If you haven’t bought a new toothbrush since early October, it’s time to add it to your shopping list.

49

Takeout menus

We live in a digital age now, and not only could you find any restaurant’s menu so much easier online than digging through kitchen drawers, an online menu is more likely to have up-to-date and accurate info on food options and prices, and will also tell you if the restaurant’s phone number has changed.

50

Expired or “mystery” medicine

All medicines have an expiration date. Check the box for details, or if it’s just a batch of mystery pills in an unmarked foil blister, chuck it. No good can come by making a lucky guess about what the medicine “might” be. If it’s a prescription drug and your doctor hasn’t specifically ask you to continue taking it, it’s time to let it go.

Some drugs can be thrown in the trash, but for prescription drugs it’s best to check with disposemymeds.org to see where your meds can be safely returned.