Our Editorial Methodology & Evaluation Standards
In health and wellness publishing, accuracy is non-negotiable. Because dietary supplements directly affect physiological health, our editorial framework adheres to strict Your Money Your Life (YMYL) standards to prevent misinformation, false medical claims, or unsupported hype.
The 5-Step Supplement Review Protocol
Step 1: Primary Formulation Verification
Before writing a word, we obtain the manufacturer's official Supplement Facts panel. We examine the exact botanical species (e.g., Bacopa monnieri vs. unspecified Brahmi), standardization percentages, proprietary blend limitations, and carrier liquids.
Step 2: Systematic Literature Search
We search indexed medical databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect) for each active compound. We do not accept promotional manufacturer whitepapers as verified clinical evidence.
Step 3: Evidence Distance Grading
We grade all scientific claims based on the physical distance between the cited study and the commercial product:
| Tier | Evidence Classification | Editorial Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial on the exact finished formula | Highest Validity (Rare in supplements) |
| Tier 2 | Human RCTs on individual standardized ingredients at equivalent doses | Strong Corroboration |
| Tier 3 | Human clinical trials testing different administration routes or significantly higher doses | Moderate (With Disclosed Limitations) |
| Tier 4 | Animal models (in vivo rodent trials) or in vitro cell assays | Preliminary (Cannot Claim Human Efficacy) |
| Tier 5 | Vendor marketing assertions or unverified testimonials | Zero Clinical Weight |
Step 4: Consumer Sentiment & Feedback Auditing
We inspect verified consumer platforms—including the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and authentic community forums—to identify recurrent trends in billing, shipping delays, packaging defects, or refund friction.
Step 5: Commercial & Refund Verification
We evaluate the actual payment gateway (ClickBank), ensure encryption protocols are intact, verify the absence of covert auto-billing traps, and test the self-service refund pathway to ensure consumer protection.
Zero-Tolerance Policy for Fake Authority
- No Fake Doctors: We never generate stock photos of actors in lab coats and claim they formulated the product.
- No Fabricated Testimonials: We do not publish fake before-and-after photos or staged customer quotes.
- No "FDA Approved" Misnomers: We strictly inform readers that dietary supplements are governed under DSHEA and are not evaluated or approved by the FDA for disease treatment.