If a website is going to make claims about food and health, it should be willing to show its work. This page explains exactly how we decide what to publish, what kinds of sources we trust, and how we handle the messy reality that nutrition science is often incomplete or contested.
Our standard, in one sentence: we prioritize peer-reviewed research, position statements from major medical organizations, government health guidance, and systematic reviews — and we tell you when a claim rests on weaker ground.
Our Sourcing Hierarchy
Not all evidence is equal. When we evaluate a claim, we weight sources roughly in this order:
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses — studies that pool many studies — carry the most weight.
- Position statements and guidelines from major medical organizations such as the American Heart Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
- Government health guidance and bodies such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
- Large, long-term cohort studies and well-designed clinical trials.
- Single studies — useful, but always labeled as single findings, not settled fact.
How We Handle Disagreement
Real science includes real disagreement. When experts genuinely differ — the lectin debate is a good example — we present the competing perspectives honestly rather than choosing the one that fits a narrative. We would rather you understand the state of the evidence than be handed a false certainty.
When we say “the research suggests,” we mean there is reasonable supporting evidence. When we say “some studies indicate,” we mean the picture is less settled. We choose those words deliberately.
What We Will Not Do
- We will not cite a study we have not actually read or verified.
- We will not present a single study as if it were established consensus.
- We will not cherry-pick findings while ignoring strong evidence that cuts the other way.
- We will not dress up opinion as science. When something is our personal view or experience, we say so.
Our References Page
Every significant health claim across the site traces back to a source you can check. The References page maintains a growing, organized list of the research and organizations behind our guidance, with citations in a consistent format and links where available. We want you to be able to verify us — that is the whole point of sourcing in the first place.
Corrections
We will get things wrong sometimes — everyone working in nutrition does. When we discover an error, we correct it rather than quietly leaving it up. If you spot something you believe is mistaken, please tell us through the Contact page. Being corrected is not an embarrassment; it is how a trustworthy resource stays trustworthy.