Where Our Facts Come From

A calm answer is only as good as the information underneath it. This page explains the sources we trust most, the ones we treat with care and what we do when good evidence simply is not available.

Sources we turn to first

• National health services and public health bodies. Their patient pages are written for the public, reviewed regularly and reflect mainstream clinical guidance.
• Medicines and product regulators. For anything involving medicines, supplements, vaping products or medical devices, the regulator's own information is the reference point.
• Professional associations' patient leaflets. Dental, pharmacy and medical bodies often publish clear guidance for the public.
• Official government guidance. For our business articles, rules on registration, records and tax come from government sources in the relevant country.
• Manufacturers' manuals. For practical hobby topics such as sewing machines, the maker's instructions have the final word.

Sources we use with care

Single studies, news stories about a "breakthrough", product websites and forum posts can all raise good questions, but they rarely settle them. We may read them to understand what people are hearing, then check whether mainstream guidance agrees before writing anything down as fact.

What we leave out

• Figures we cannot trace back to a reliable source.
• Quotes from experts we have not spoken to.
• Claims that a product cures, prevents or treats a condition unless a regulator says so.
• Income examples that could read as a promise.

When a topic has little solid evidence behind it, as with some supplements and wellness trends, we say so plainly rather than filling the gap with confident language.

Older articles

Some articles on the site were first written several years ago and have since been reworked. When we revise an older answer, we check its main points against current guidance. If you find one that has fallen behind, please let us know through our contact page.

How sources fit into our routine

Every answer passes through the same steps of drafting, checking and a second read, set out on How We Keep It Careful. Our reasons for always pointing you to a professional are on Before You Act on Anything.