Editorial Standards

Last updated: June 2026

SourceLean exists to do one thing well: help you understand what’s actually inside a weight-loss supplement before you spend money on it. These are the standards we hold ourselves to — written plainly, so you can judge our work against them.

Our mission

Cut through the marketing. Most supplement content online is either hype designed to sell, or vague filler. We aim for the opposite: clear, honest, evidence-first information about formulas and the ingredients inside them, so you can make your own informed decision.

How we research and write

• Evidence first. When we describe what an ingredient does, we base it on the published research — and we’re honest about the difference between strong evidence, weak evidence, and marketing claims.
• Doses matter. We compare the amount on a label against the dose used in studies, because an ingredient with good evidence does little at a token amount.
• We hedge where the science does. If the research is modest or mixed, we say “may support” rather than “melts fat.” We don’t overstate what a supplement can do.
• Plain language. We explain things the way we’d explain them to a friend — no jargon for its own sake.

What our clarity score means (and what it doesn’t)

Every formula gets a clarity score out of 100. It’s important to understand exactly what this measures:

• It measures label transparency — how openly a product discloses its ingredients and the dose of each one.
• It does not measure effectiveness. A high score means the label is honest about what’s inside, not that the product is guaranteed to work. No honest reviewer can promise results.

A product that lists every dose scores higher than one that hides the same ingredients inside a proprietary blend — because you can actually verify what you’re buying.

Editorial independence

SourceLean is reader-supported through affiliate links, and we’re upfront about that on our affiliate disclosure page. Here’s our firm rule: commissions never influence our verdicts.

• We don’t inflate a product, bury a weakness, or rank something higher because it pays more.
• We flag proprietary blends, hype, and weak evidence even on products we link to.
• A link means a product is available to buy — it is not a guarantee or an endorsement of results.

Honesty and no fabrication

We hold a hard line on a few things:

• No fake reviews or invented testimonials. We don’t fabricate customer quotes or before-and-after stories.
• No false claims. We describe facilities and certifications accurately and never imply approvals a product doesn’t have.
• No fear-mongering or false urgency. No fake countdown timers, no “stock running out” pressure.

Accuracy, updates and corrections

Supplement formulas, prices and availability change. We work to keep our pages current, but details can fall out of date, and we may make mistakes. If you spot an error — an ingredient that’s changed, a broken link, or anything that reads wrong — please tell us through our contact page, and we’ll review and correct it. We’d genuinely rather be accurate than proud.

Our limitations — read this

We’re committed to honesty, and part of honesty is being clear about what we are not:

• SourceLean provides educational information, not medical advice. We are not doctors, and nothing here is a substitute for professional medical guidance.
• Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet, physical activity, sleep, or medical care.
• Statements about supplements on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA, and individual results vary.
• Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement — especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or manage a health condition.

Accountability

SourceLean is an independent site. If you have questions about how we research, score, or fund our work, we’re happy to explain — reach us any time via the contact page.

See also: Affiliate Disclosure · Medical Disclaimer · About SourceLean