How we decide what to say, and how you can check it.
Sources we rely on
When we make a statement about health or about what an ingredient does, we try to base it on human research published in peer-reviewed journals, preferably randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews such as those from the Cochrane Collaboration. We link to the source, usually on PubMed, so you can read it yourself. We also use guidance from public health bodies such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
We do not treat a manufacturer's sales page, a press release or another affiliate site as evidence.
How we review supplements
- We read the official product page and the Supplement Facts label.
- For each ingredient, we search for human trials on the outcome the product is marketed for.
- We compare the amount on the label with the amounts used in those trials, and note when the form of the ingredient differs.
- We check the price, packages, refund policy and where the product can be bought.
- We check every claim on the sales page that we repeat. If we cannot verify a claim, we say so.
- We summarize what we liked, what gave us pause, and who the product may or may not suit.
We do not currently test products on people, and we say so in each review. A study of an ingredient is not a study of the finished product, and we make that distinction clear.
What we will not do
- Claim that a supplement diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents a disease.
- Publish testimonials we cannot verify, or before-and-after images.
- Invent experts, credentials, statistics or quotes.
- Use fake countdown timers or false scarcity.
- Let a commission change what we say about the evidence.
Authors
Content is written and edited under the pen name Grant Whitaker. Our writers are not medical professionals. If a licensed professional reviews an article in the future, we will name them and state their credentials on that article.
Updates and corrections
Each article shows the date it was last updated. We revisit reviews when prices, formulas or the research change. If you spot an error, tell us; we correct factual mistakes promptly and note significant corrections on the page.