Editorial Policy

Body Signals is an independent research digest and publisher. We summarise published, peer-reviewed health research in plain language for Canadian and US readers. Our goal is to make the current state of health research accessible to a general audience \u2014 without sensationalism, without commercial bias, and without overstating what the evidence supports.

We prioritise sources in the following order when summarising research. Higher-ranked sources carry more weight in our editorial judgements and evidence ratings:

1. 1
   Peer-reviewed journals

   Published meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomised controlled trials in indexed journals.

2. 2
   Clinical practice guidelines

   Evidence-based guidelines from professional medical bodies (e.g., AHA, CPA, NICE).

3. 3
   Recognised medical organisations

   Position statements and consensus documents from established specialty organisations.

4. 4
   Government health agencies

   Health Canada, NIH, CDC, FDA, and equivalent bodies in other jurisdictions.

5. 5
   Expert consensus

   Where rigorous trial data is lacking, documented expert consensus may be cited with appropriate caveats.

Every health claim on Body Signals carries an A\u2013F evidence rating. These ratings reflect our editorial judgement about the quality, consistency, and volume of published research supporting a given claim. They are not clinical endorsements or treatment recommendations.

For a detailed breakdown of each grade, criteria, examples, and limitations, see our Methodology page.

We take accuracy seriously. When we identify errors in our research summaries \u2014 whether factual inaccuracies, outdated information, or misrepresentations of published research \u2014 we correct them promptly and document the correction in our public Corrections Log.

Corrections are categorised by severity:

• Minor: Typographical errors, formatting issues, or clarifications that do not change the substance of a research summary.
• Moderate: Factual errors or omissions that affect the completeness of a research summary but do not change the overall evidence rating.
• Significant: Errors that result in a change to an evidence rating or materially alter the interpretation of a research summary.

All research summaries on Body Signals follow a structured editorial process:

1. Source identification: Primary research sources are identified and evaluated against our source hierarchy.
2. Drafting: Research is summarised in plain language with careful attention to avoiding overstatement or understatement of findings.
3. Evidence rating: An A\u2013F rating is assigned based on the criteria described in our Methodology page.
4. Editorial review: Summaries are reviewed for accuracy, balance, clarity, and appropriate caveats before publication.
5. Ongoing monitoring: Published summaries are periodically reviewed and updated as new research emerges.

At present, Body Signals has no commercial relationships, sponsorships, or financial conflicts of interest that could influence our editorial content or evidence ratings.

We are committed to disclosing any conflicts of interest that may arise in the future. If any editor or contributor has a relevant conflict, it will be disclosed on the affected content and documented here. For a full accounting of our current commercial relationships (if any), see our Disclosures page.

Research summaries are reviewed and updated on a rolling basis. Each summary displays a "last updated" date so readers can assess currency. Updates are triggered by:

• Publication of significant new research (e.g., large RCTs, updated meta-analyses, revised clinical guidelines)
• Identification of errors through our corrections process
• Reader feedback that highlights gaps or inaccuracies
• Periodic scheduled reviews of high-traffic or high-impact content

Body Signals serves readers in both Canada and the United States. These are treated as co-equal jurisdictions throughout our content. Where clinical guidelines, regulatory approvals, or healthcare system structures differ between the two countries, we note the differences.

We use Canadian English spelling conventions (e.g., colour, behaviour, centre) throughout the site, consistent with our Canadian editorial base, while ensuring content is accessible and relevant to US readers.

For editorial inquiries, correction reports, or questions about our editorial process, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our contact page.

Body Signals does not accept sponsored content, native advertising, pharmaceutical advertising, or supplement brand partnerships. We will never publish content that is written, reviewed, or influenced by a commercial partner.

Where Body Signals links to external health services (e.g., telehealth platforms, booking tools, or laboratory providers), these links may carry affiliate or referral relationships. All such relationships are disclosed at the point of the link and on our Disclosures page. Commercial relationships are maintained under a strict editorial firewall:

• •Partners cannot influence evidence ratings, content placement, or editorial conclusions.
• •If a partner's evidence quality drops or a conflict of interest is identified, the relationship is terminated and the event is logged.
• •At least one published correction must go against a would-be commercial interest before any paid partnership is activated.