Supplement Trust Scorecard

The supplement aisle is full of confident claims and hidden doses. Before you spend money, run any product through this checklist — it flags the quality and honesty signals that separate a serious supplement from a gimmick. It's about trustworthiness, not whether the ingredient works(that's a separate question).

Trustworthy ≠ effective

A well-made, honestly-labeled supplement can still be useless if the ingredient itself lacks evidence. So pair this scorecard with the actual science: see our honest reviews of black cohosh, red clover, and menopause supplements.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a supplement is trustworthy?

Look for independent third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Choice), a published Certificate of Analysis, fully disclosed doses (no proprietary blends), doses that match what was actually studied, measured rather than miraculous claims, clear ingredient forms, a transparent company, independent reviews, and no recall history. This scorecard walks you through each.

Does a high score mean the supplement will work?

No. A high score means the product is well-made and honestly presented — not that the ingredient is effective for you. Whether a supplement actually helps is a separate question, best judged on the clinical evidence and with a clinician.

What is a proprietary blend?

A proprietary blend lists several ingredients under one combined amount, hiding how much of each you're actually getting. It often masks token, under-dosed actives, which is why fully disclosed doses are a better sign.