1. Find the live questions
We use current retailer bestseller pages, category visibility, broad distribution, and durable consumer interest to identify products worth explaining. These are popularity signals, not proof of quality or effectiveness. Retail ranks change—sometimes daily—so we date our research and do not publish unstable numeric rank claims as permanent facts.
2. Prefer a defined use over a universal winner
“Best” without a use case is usually marketing. We ask who might reasonably compare the product, what constraint it addresses, and when food, water, sleep, training, or professional advice is the better first move.
3. Read the current label
Our comparison checklist includes:
- the active ingredient and amount per actual serving;
- servings per container and practical dose comparison;
- allergens, sodium, added sugar, caffeine, sweeteners, and other relevant extras;
- warnings, age limits, medicine interactions, and storage needs;
- whether a claim belongs to the exact current SKU—not merely the brand.
4. Keep claims inside the evidence
We start with public-health and regulatory sources such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, CDC, FDA, and FTC. We may use systematic reviews or professional position papers when a category calls for them, while noting funding and study limitations. We do not turn a mechanism, testimonial, animal study, or bestseller badge into a treatment claim.
Dietary supplements are not preapproved by FDA for safety or effectiveness. A certification can support a quality-control statement for a specific SKU; it does not prove that the product produces a desired health outcome.
5. Describe trade-offs plainly
Every pick has a “watch for” field. It is not a complete safety review, but it makes common constraints visible before a click: allergens, sodium, sugar, caffeine, dose overlap, medicine interactions, or groups that should seek individual advice.
6. Separate editorial and commerce
A brand cannot buy a higher position. Affiliate links and sponsorships are labeled near the relevant content. The current launch list contains no paid ranking placements. When a commercial relationship changes, the disclosure changes with it.
7. Recheck, correct, and retire
We recheck live pages before substantive updates, avoid hard-coded prices, and look for label changes or recalls. A product can move, lose a pick, or be removed when the evidence, formulation, availability, or editorial fit changes. Corrections can be sent to support@askfork.com.