Q: After reading about coconut macaroon cookies for diarrhea in your newsletter, I had my son try this remedy.  He has had diarrhea every day for a couple of years.

I bought him some trader Joe’s Coconut Macaroons.  They worked on day one of the trial and have worked every day for a month.

His stools are soft, but with no diarrhea.  Placebo?  Well, just yesterday he told me he forgot to eat the cookies two days in a row.  His diarrhea came back on the second day.  A daily macaroon cookie is one “pill” he now remembers to take!

A: Many readers have reported that Archway Coconut Macaroon cookies can help relieve chronic diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome.  We’re delighted to learn that other brands also work.

For those who wish to make their own coconut macaroon cookies, here is a recipe a listener of our radio show shared:

2 2/3 cup shredded coconut

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

4 egg whites

Mix ingredients together.  Drop by teaspoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 325F or until lightly browned.

• article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• copyright The Seattle Times