One judgment, five steps
These steps don't produce a recommendation. They produce a statement of what this record can show and what it can't.
- A
Define the question
First confirm whether the question you want answered is about product information or about individual suitability. The latter needs a qualified professional and is outside this method.
- B
Log the changes made in the same period
Write down every input that changed during this period: what changed, when, and whether it is still going on. Don't judge whether they are good or bad; only record that they changed.
- C
Separate facts, inferences and gaps
What is visible on the label, what can be traced to public sources, what you yourself state, and what cannot currently be verified: these four must be kept apart, never merged into one “research shows”.
- D
Judge what can be attributed
If several relevant conditions changed within the same time window, the observation cannot be attributed to any one of them. That is a structural limit of how the observation was set up, not a limit of the analysis.
- E
Give boundaries, not answers
State what the current record supports, what it doesn't, and which piece of information should be filled in before the next judgment. The final choice is yours.
These steps come from research training in complex systems: when many variables change at once, first establish which conclusions don't hold, then discuss which might.
The five-step process
- 01
OBSERVE
Describe the observable result without rushing to explain its cause.
- 02
MAP
Check the timing and identify patterns that recur.
- 03
SEPARATE
Break down basic conditions such as intake, processing and distribution.
- 04
PRIORITISE
Rank by evidence, impact, changeability and opportunity cost.
- 05
TEST / REFER
Keep, stop, verify, observe or refer.
To break down a decision, first look at these six variables
Intake
What you usually eat and how much, and whether protein, fibre and your overall diet form a suitable base.
Processing
How your body digests, absorbs and tolerates what you eat, and whether these processes affect the current observation.
Distribution
How training, daily activity and recovery needs affect how your body uses energy and resources, and whether these arrangements fit your current goal.
State
First record faithfully what can be observed, without rushing to explain it and without attributing a single change directly to one product.
Rhythm
Whether sleep, meal times and work schedule show time patterns that recur.
Intervention
What was added later on purpose, such as supplements, fortified foods, functional foods or devices, and when and how each entered your existing routine.
Above the six variables sits a seventh layer of judgment: Priority — see the Priority Card below.
Applying the method to one real decision
The L3 personal expert review organises the 3–10 supplements you currently use by the facts on their labels and issues a signed confirmation for one of your purchase decisions: how many sources of the same nutrient you take at once, which products still have a clear role, and which no longer have a valid reason. It does not rate each product as “good” or “bad”.
We check sources, amounts and label facts. We don't judge whether a nutrient is sufficient or deficient for you, or whether a product is necessary for you; those questions belong to doctors and dietitians. Where they need to judge, we say so clearly.
| INCLUDED | NOT INCLUDED |
|---|---|
| 1 person, 1 non-medical purchase goal | Open-ended consultation, several goals at once |
| The 3–10 supplements you currently use | An unlimited product list |
| A check of the dietary sources directly related to these products | Judging whether your nutrition is sufficient or deficient |
| A signed confirmation (PDF) + 1 written clarification | Video meetings, unlimited questions, long-term support |
| Evidence links, the calculation trail and a list of unknowns | Diagnosis, treatment advice, medication changes |
| Corrections on request within 7 days of delivery | Precise nutrition, training or rehabilitation plans |
Price, process and how to apply: L3 personal expert review (in Chinese) →
Every product goes clearly into one of four categories
Keep observing
This product's role is clear for now; carry on as you use it today.
Check first
Its sources need checking before we can judge whether it is still needed.
Don't add for now
Within your current list, there is no need to add more of this type for now.
Needs professional judgment
It involves medication or disease management; a doctor or pharmacist needs to judge your individual situation. This service does not make that judgment.
These four categories are about “whether to buy it again next time”, not “whether to take it now”. The first is a consumer decision; the second would be a medical instruction. Anything involving stopping a medication or managing a disease always goes into “Needs professional judgment”.
Safety Gate · routing before anything else
Once Refer is triggered, it overrides every later product conclusion, observation framework and any commercial output.
For the ingredient claims of supplements and functional foods, LVA™ uses a four-tier evidence framework to judge whether information is transparent and claims are supported:
Strong evidence and consensus → Basic supporting ingredient → Plausible mechanism but formulation-dependent → Mostly a marketing concept
The tiers judge whether information is transparent; they do not judge whether an ingredient or product suits an individual.
LVA™ Priority Card
This illustrates how the LVA™ method produces a judgment; the website currently shows the method only and gives no personalised output.