This page explains how articles on this site are chosen, researched, written, checked, and corrected.
How topics are chosen
We cover two topic clusters only:
- Dietary fiber and gut microbes, including prebiotics, fermented foods, and probiotics.
- Digestive symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome, including constipation, bloating, and the low-FODMAP diet.
Topics come from a list we set in advance, in a fixed order. Each planned topic has a stated question, the reader decision it should help with, and the limits of the evidence it may rely on. We do not pick topics at random or chase trending subjects outside these two clusters.
Evidence standards
Health claims are based on studies in people and on clinical guidelines. Evidence is gathered from PubMed for each article, and studies that do not match the article’s question or the people it is about are left out. Claims are cited with links to the PubMed record (PMID) of the study they rely on. General nutrition and safety knowledge may appear without a citation, but claims about effects are tied to the cited evidence.
How we use AI
Articles are written and edited with the help of AI tools. A first draft is written on day one from the gathered evidence. On each of the next three days the whole article is edited again: first for structure and logic, then for evidence, wording, and usefulness to the reader, and finally for copy editing or fixing any open problems. AI tools are told not to invent qualifications, clinical experience, or personal experience.
Automated quality checks
Before publishing, each article goes through code checks and an independent automated quality check. The quality check scores the article out of 100 across evidence accuracy, usefulness to the reader, structure and focus, clarity and style, originality and specificity, and editorial quality. It also flags blocking problems, such as a claim that the cited study does not support or a citation that is off-topic. An article is published only when every blocking problem is resolved, no new one is found, the total score is at least 85, and the evidence accuracy score is at least 22 out of 25. Articles that do not pass are held back or discarded.
Publishing pace
We publish at most one article per week.
No professional check
Our articles have not been checked by a doctor or other health professional. The automated checks above are not a substitute for that. Please read our medical disclaimer.
Corrections and updates
When an error is found or the evidence changes, we correct the article and show the date it was last updated. For how this site handles visitor data, cookies, and ads, see our privacy policy.