How We Review Products

Consumers Health Journal recommends products based on published research, independent testing data, and formulation quality. This page explains exactly what that process involves, and just as important, what it does not.

What we do not do

We do not run a lab. We do not conduct independent product testing, and we do not personally try every product we write about. Any site that claims to hands-on test hundreds of supplements is usually overstating it. We would rather tell you plainly how we work.

Our model is editorial synthesis. That means we read the research, compare it against what a product actually contains, and make a judgment about whether the evidence supports it.

What we actually do

We read the primary research. Before we evaluate any product, we review the clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses on its key ingredients. We rely on peer-reviewed sources like PubMed and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, not press releases or brand claims.

We check independent testing data where it exists. Organizations like ConsumerLab and Labdoor test whether supplements contain what their labels claim. Certifications from NSF and USP tell us a product was manufactured to a verified standard. We reference this data whenever it is available.

We compare formulations to the research. A supplement only deserves a recommendation if its ingredient form and dose match what was actually studied. If the clinical trials used 300 mg of a standardized extract and a product contains 50 mg of an unstandardized one, we will tell you.

We assess brand transparency. We look at whether a company publishes certificates of analysis, manufactures in GMP-certified facilities (a federal quality standard for how supplements are produced), and labels its products accurately.

We read expert consensus. Position statements and guidance from medical and nutrition organizations help us put individual studies in context.

What our recommendations mean

When we recommend a product, it reflects our editorial judgment about what the evidence supports. It is not the result of a personal product test, and we say so in every article through the framing we use.

We also tell you when the evidence is weak, mixed, or missing. If the research behind an ingredient is preliminary, the article will say that near the claim, not in a buried footnote.

How we make money

The site is currently free and supported by our readers through subscriptions to our newsletter. In the future, some articles may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships never determine what we recommend. The evaluation comes first, the links come second. You can read more on our affiliate disclosure page.

A note on medical advice

Nothing we publish is medical advice. Our articles and recommendations are for general information. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you take medication or have a health condition.

Questions

If you have a question about how we evaluated a specific product, or you believe we got something wrong, email us at contact@consumershealthjournal.com. Corrections are reviewed and applied to the article with an updated date.