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.
Health-adjacent lists are reviewed by a medical professional before publishing, and every factual claim links to its source.
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.