Scientific transparency, not a promotional label
Explore the background to our educational guides and estimates. A reference explains context; it does not establish that an app or individual result has been clinically validated.
How do we choose a source?
We prioritize public guidance, original articles, systematic reviews, or well-known databases.
Each entry describes the context it provides. A linked study does not validate every feature or formula in the product.
Research and guidance can change. Follow the publisher’s link for its current version and limitations.
Even reliable general guidance is not a personal diagnosis or treatment plan.
Reference library
Search by title, publisher or topic.
Research on food recognition, portion estimates and the limits of image-based dietary assessment.
Applying Image-Based Food-Recognition Systems on Dietary Assessment: A Systematic Review
Context: Image recognition and dietary-assessment methods.
PMID: 35803496 · DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmac078
AI-based digital image dietary assessment methods compared to humans and ground truth
Context: Comparison with human and reference assessments.
PMID: 38060823
Validity of image-based dietary assessment methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Context: Validity and portion-estimation limitations.
PMID: 32839035
USDA FoodData Central
Context: Reference food composition data.
Equations and research explaining energy estimates and changes in body weight.
A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals
Context: The resting-energy equation used by the calculators.
PMID: 2305711 · DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/51.2.241
About Body Mass Index (BMI)
Context: BMI definitions and interpretation limits.
Human Energy Requirements
Context: Energy requirements and activity concepts.
Optimal Diet Strategies for Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance
Context: Weight-management approaches and individual variation.
PMID: 33107442 · DOI: 10.7570/jomes20065
Energy balance and obesity: what are the main drivers?
Context: Factors affecting energy balance and body weight.
PMID: 28210884 · DOI: 10.1007/s10552-017-0869-z
Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Total Daily Energy Expenditure in Successful Weight Loss Maintainers
Context: Activity and energy expenditure in weight maintenance.
PMID: 30801984 · DOI: 10.1002/oby.22373
Background on variety, balance and the limits of simple scores.
Healthy diet
Context: General healthy-diet principles.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
Context: Dietary patterns and food groups.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025
Context: Historical dietary guidance for comparison.
Healthy Eating Plate
Context: An illustration of food-group balance.
Nutrient Recommendations and Databases
Context: Definitions of nutrient reference values.
MyPlate — Vegetables
Context: Vegetable groups and variety.
Vegetables and Fruits
Context: Fruit and vegetable variety.
Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations
Context: Population context for fruit and vegetable intake.
Definitions, food sources and the interpretation of nutrient information.
Carbohydrates
Context: Carbohydrate types and food sources.
Whole Grains
Context: Whole-grain definitions.
Carbohydrates
Context: Sugars, starches and fibre.
Fats and Cholesterol
Context: Types of fat and cholesterol.
Dietary Fats
Context: Dietary-fat quality and food sources.
MyPlate — Protein Foods
Context: Variety in protein foods.
Dietary protein intake and human health
Context: Protein intake and health context.
PMID: 26797090 · DOI: 10.1039/C5FO01530H
Fiber
Context: Fibre sources and dietary patterns.
Vitamins and Minerals
Context: Micronutrient roles; photographs cannot establish deficiencies.
Dietary Reference Intakes Summary Tables
Context: Reference nutrient and water tables.
Guidance for understanding ingredients and dietary patterns.
Added Sugars
Context: Added-sugar definitions.
Added Sugar in the Diet
Context: Sources of added sugar.
Sodium reduction
Context: Sodium-reduction guidance.
Sodium and Salt
Context: The difference between salt and sodium.
Salt and Sodium
Context: Dietary sources of sodium.
Trans Fat
Context: Trans-fat definitions and sources.
Limit red and processed meat
Context: Red and processed meat guidance.
Processed Foods and Health
Context: Food-processing definitions and their limits.
Reference guidance on total water intake, electrolytes and individual variation.
Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate
Context: Total water includes food and beverages; this does not validate a fixed personal target.
Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium
Context: Sodium and potassium reference guidance.
Research context and uncertainty around fasting patterns.
Calorie restriction and fasting diets: What do we know?
Context: Calorie restriction and fasting research limitations.
Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease
Context: Research on fasting and health.
PMID: 31881139 · DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1905136
Research on intermittent fasting shows health benefits
Context: Research findings versus individual advice.
Activity guidance and the basis of MET estimates.
WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Context: Physical-activity recommendations.
Physical activity
Context: Activity intensity and general health benefits.
2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities
Context: MET reference values; personal energy expenditure varies.
PMID: 38242596
Sleep-duration guidance and the evidence and limits of mindfulness.
About Sleep
Context: Sleep-duration guidance.
Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement
Context: Adult sleep-duration consensus.
PMID: 25979105
National Sleep Foundation's updated sleep duration recommendations
Context: Sleep recommendations by age.
PMID: 29073398
Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety
Context: Mindfulness evidence and safety limits.
Clinical guidance provides context; it does not validate an online diagnosis.
WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain
Context: Clinical context for persistent low-back pain.
Neck Pain: Revision 2017
Context: Clinical context for neck-pain assessment and care.
PMID: 28666405 · DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2017.0302
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What does this page mean?
These sources provide context for educational content. Listing them does not imply endorsement by their authors or organisations. Medical conditions, pregnancy, eating disorders, medication-related needs and persistent pain require individual professional advice.