How We Research & Write Our Guides
The guides on opanutrition.com are written to help you understand supplements, ingredients and everyday wellness habits. This page explains who writes them, how we research them and how we keep them accurate.
Who writes our guides
Our guides are written by Michael Gonzales, the founder of OPA Nutrition. Michael is responsible for everything we publish on the site.
How we research a guide
Before we write about an ingredient or a health topic, we look at what the evidence actually says. Our main sources are:
- Published research, with a preference for peer-reviewed studies indexed on PubMed
- Fact sheets from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
- Product labels and supplement facts panels, for serving sizes and amounts
When the research on an ingredient is limited or mixed, we say so. We describe what a supplement is designed to support, and we do not claim that any supplement diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents a disease.
How we cite sources
Every guide ends with a numbered list of its sources. We cite the primary source wherever we can: the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet, the original study on PubMed, or the government or clinical reference itself, rather than another website's summary of it. Statements about amounts, upper limits and interactions come from those references, not from marketing material.
How we grade the evidence
Guides that discuss what an ingredient may do carry an evidence grade with a one-line reason for it:
- Strong: consistent results from several randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews in people, or an established reference value such as an NIH recommended intake or upper limit.
- Moderate: human trials that point the same way but are small, short or few, or consistent findings from large observational studies.
- Emerging: early or mixed human data, pilot studies, or research that is still mostly in cells or animals.
A grade describes the research on the ingredient. It is not a promise about any product or any person's results.
What we write about
We write about ingredients: what they are, their forms, how much is studied, timing, interactions, how they compare with each other and how they are combined. We do not write guides about treating a disease, we do not present a supplement as an alternative to a medication, and we do not use urgent language to push a decision. Articles about eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diet, describe the way of eating itself.
How we keep content current
Research, labels and products change, so we review our guides and update them when something important changes. Each guide that meets this standard shows a Last reviewed date, the date Michael last checked it against its sources.
If we find a mistake, we correct it. Factual corrections are made in the guide itself, so the version you read is the corrected one.
Our independence
OPA Nutrition sells dietary supplements, including products we write about, and we want to be upfront about that. Our guides mention OPA Nutrition products only where they are relevant to the topic, and only products that are currently available. We still aim for every guide to be useful on its own, even if you decide to buy a supplement somewhere else or not to take one at all. Every guide carries this disclosure:
Disclosure: OPA Nutrition sells supplements, including products mentioned in this article. This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your healthcare provider before using any supplement, especially if you take medication or have a medical condition.
Not medical advice
Our guides are for general education only. They are not medical advice and are not a substitute for advice from your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified healthcare professional. Talk to a professional before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, take medication or have a medical condition. Read our full Health & Supplement Disclaimer.
Corrections and feedback
If you spot an error, think a guide is out of date, or have a question about a source, please tell us through our contact form. We read every message and will update a guide when a correction is needed.