Q. I had chronic diarrhea for several years, so I was interested in the coconut macaroon cookie remedy when I read about it in your column. I ate two each morning and got good benefit for a while, but then I had to increase the dose.
After a few months, even three cookies were not helping the diarrhea. Instead I turned to Dannon Activia yogurt. They advertise that they will refund your money if it doesn’t solve the problem in two weeks. I didn’t get any money back, but I am happy. Not only did it eliminate my diarrhea, it also solved my husband’s long-standing constipation problem.
A. Activia contains probiotic bacteria that are supposed to help re-establish a healthy balance of microbes in the gut. Yogurt is made from cultured milk, so it is an excellent way to deliver living bacteria.
Probiotics have gained popularity in Europe, but are still relatively unknown in the United States. Nonetheless, there is some research to link probiotics to promoting better digestive health, soothing eczema and boosting immunity against respiratory tract infections.
We discussed probiotics for good health with Kelly Karpa, RPh, PhD, during an hour-long interview on our radio show.
