You do not need to become a researcher to question a health claim. Use PAUSE → SOURCE → EVIDENCE → CONTEXT → MONEY → RISK → VERIFY.
1. Pause
What exactly is the post, product or person claiming? Write the claim in one sentence. “Supports hormones” is too vague: which hormone, what change, in whom and with what outcome?
2. Source
Who is making the claim? Are they an appropriate authority for this question? Can you find the original clinical guidance, research paper or regulatory information rather than relying on a screenshot or second-hand summary?
3. Evidence
Ask what kind of evidence is being used: clinical guidance, systematic review, individual study, company data, survey, testimonial or personal story. Different evidence answers different questions.
4. Context
Who was studied? How many people? Which sport? Which age group? Was the result an association or evidence of cause? Were the effects large enough to matter in practice?
5. Money
Does the person earn money if you buy, click, subscribe or use a discount code? Commercial involvement does not automatically make information false, but it should be transparent and it raises the importance of independent evidence.
6. Risk
Be particularly cautious where advice could lead somebody to stop medication, restrict food, take supplements, delay healthcare, self-diagnose or make an anti-doping decision.
7. Verify
For significant health decisions, verify against an appropriate authoritative source such as NHS, NICE, MHRA or UKAD where relevant.
“Every woman”, “doctors don’t want you to know”, “reset your hormones”, “100% natural so no side effects”, “this quiz diagnoses you”, “stop your medication”, or a product recommendation immediately after creating fear about a condition.
Three things can be true at once
- A woman’s lived experience can be genuine.
- Population-level evidence may not show the same effect for everyone.
- More research may still be needed.
Coaches
Do not turn internet health content into diagnosis. Use LISTEN → SUPPORT → ADJUST WHERE APPROPRIATE → SIGNPOST.
Girls and young people
Use a higher threshold around weight, restrictive eating, hormone products, menstrual manipulation, supplements and body-transformation content. Do not use a social-media checklist to diagnose a girl.