Our Approach to Evidence

Health information online ranges from rigorous to reckless. We aim to stay firmly on the rigorous side. Here’s how:

We Cite Primary Sources

Every claim on this site links back to the original peer-reviewed study. We don’t cite news articles about studies — we cite the studies themselves. This lets you verify our interpretation and read the full methodology.

We Evaluate Study Quality

Not all studies are equal. We consider:

  • Study design — systematic reviews and meta-analyses carry more weight than individual case studies
  • Sample size — larger, well-powered studies are more reliable
  • Reproducibility — findings replicated across multiple studies are more trustworthy
  • Conflicts of interest — we note when studies are industry-funded or have potential bias

We Distinguish Certainty Levels

You’ll see us use language carefully:

  • “Research shows…” — strong evidence from multiple high-quality studies
  • “Studies suggest…” — promising but limited evidence
  • “Preliminary research indicates…” — early-stage findings that need more study
  • “One study found…” — a single finding that hasn’t been widely replicated

We Update Our Content

Science evolves. When new research contradicts or refines earlier findings, we update our articles and note the change.

What We Don’t Do

  • We don’t give medical advice — consult your doctor for personal health decisions
  • We don’t cherry-pick studies to support a predetermined conclusion
  • We don’t present animal studies as direct evidence for human outcomes without noting the distinction
  • We don’t accept payment for editorial content