Every list starts with more than five candidates. We read the research, test what can be tested, and cut until five remain. What gets cut goes in the "What didn't make the list" section with the reason — popular advice that does not hold up belongs there, not in the list.
We do not ask you to take our word for it. Every factual claim links to a named, authoritative source — the NHS, the Sleep Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, peer-reviewed research — so you can check it yourself. Health-adjacent lists get extra scrutiny on sourcing, and we say plainly when the evidence is mixed or a popular fix does not actually hold up.
Each list is written by one person and edited by another, and both are named on the page. For anything medical, we point you to your GP or a qualified professional — we summarise good sources, we do not replace clinical advice.
Some picks include a product we recommend. Those links can earn us a commission, and they are always labeled "Affiliate link". Products never decide the five — the five come first, and a product is attached only when one genuinely helps you act on a pick. Nobody can pay to be on a list.