Editorial policy
Last updated 28 October 2026
Sources
Peer-reviewed research, systematic reviews, clinical guidelines and regulators’ documents. Every source is numbered and linked.
Evidence
Each study gets one of five levels. The level sets the verb we use, in every article. Research explained articles also show the level of the study they cover.
| Level | We say | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Established | shows | Confirmed by many studies and systematic reviews; unlikely to change. |
| Strong | found | Consistent results from well-run controlled trials in people. |
| Emerging | suggests | Promising results from a few studies; could still change. |
| Early | may | First results: small studies, or studies in animals or cells. |
| Hypothesis | proposes | An idea that fits the facts but has not been tested directly. |
Checking
Every claim, number and reference is checked against its source before publication.
Review
Articles are reviewed at least every six months. The dates are on every page.
Corrections
Mistakes are corrected with a dated note at the top of the article and listed on Corrections.
Interviews
Researchers approve their quotes, not the article. No one is paid.
Opinion
Opinion and first-person pieces are labelled as such. The views are the author’s own; facts and sources are checked like everything we publish, and authors declare any financial ties. How to write for us.