The short version: nothing on this site is a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or a substitute for talking to a professional who actually knows your health history. Here’s the longer version.
This is general information, not personal advice
Our articles describe what research generally shows across populations that were studied — not what’s necessarily true or safe for you specifically. Age, existing conditions, medications, pregnancy, and countless other individual factors can change whether a given piece of advice applies to you. We have no way to account for that in a published article, which is exactly why it isn’t a replacement for an actual consultation.
No doctor-patient (or therapist-client, or dietitian-client) relationship
Reading this site, subscribing to our newsletter, or contacting us through our Contact form does not create a clinical relationship of any kind, even if the person writing happens to hold a relevant license. Our contributors are not providing you individual medical, psychological, or nutritional care through this website.
Before you act on anything here
- Talk to your doctor before changing medication, starting a new supplement, or making a significant change to an existing treatment plan.
- Talk to a mental health professional if what you’re dealing with is persistent, severe, or affecting your ability to function — the coping techniques we describe are not a substitute for therapy or psychiatric care where that’s needed.
- Talk to a registered dietitian if you have a diagnosed condition (diabetes, an eating disorder, kidney disease, etc.) before applying general nutrition advice to your own diet.
If this is an emergency
This website is not monitored for emergencies and nothing here is built for real-time crisis use. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately. If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, contact a crisis line in your country right away — in the US, that’s 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Don’t wait to hear back from us; we’re not able to respond in time to help in an emergency, and that’s not what this site is for.
Accuracy and sourcing
We link to the studies and sources behind our claims and try to keep articles current, as described in our Editorial Policy. Medical and scientific understanding changes over time, and an article that was accurate when published may not reflect the most current guidance by the time you read it. When something matters for a real decision, check the primary source or ask a professional rather than relying on our summary alone.