Sourcing Standards
The bar a product clears before we’ll link it.
We only attach a “where to buy” link to a product that clears the bar below. These standards are about product quality — purity, potency, honest labeling — and they are completely separate from our evidence grades and from any commission. A brand cannot pay to meet them.
The two things we judge — and why they’re separate
Evidence grade answers: does published research support this ingredient? Sourcing & quality answers: is this specific product worth buying? A supplement can earn a top evidence grade and still get no buy link from us if no product clears the bar. Fish oil is the clearest case — the omega-3 evidence is solid, but an oxidized bottle can be degraded and unpleasant.
What every product must clear
Third-party tested
An independent lab — not the brand — has verified what’s in the bottle. We look for certifications like NSF, USP, Informed Sport / Choice, IFOS, or a published Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Honest, specific labeling
The label states the active amount per serving (elemental magnesium, EPA + DHA — not just "fish oil 1000 mg"), not a hidden "proprietary blend".
No undisclosed fillers or adulterants
Especially where contamination is common — heavy metals in protein and turmeric, for example.
Form and dose that match the research
If a study used a specific form or standardized extract, the product should use it too.
Ingredient-specific checks
Some supplements need extra scrutiny — fish oil for oxidation, protein and turmeric for heavy metals, probiotics for live-strain counts, and more. Where it matters, the relevant checklist appears right on the supplement’s page, with sources. We currently apply ingredient-specific standards to 10 high-variance supplements, and we’re adding more.
What these standards are not
- · Not for sale. No brand can pay to be linked, ranked, or badged. Meeting the standard is the only way in.
- · Not the evidence grade. Passing the sourcing bar says nothing about whether the ingredient works — check the grade for that.
- · Not a guarantee. Quality testing reduces risk; it doesn’t replace your healthcare provider.
- · When nothing clears the bar, we show no link — just the checklist, so you can shop safely on your own.
See also how we make money and our editorial independence statement. See a product we link that shouldn’t qualify? Report it. This is educational information, not medical advice.