Provided are compositions useful as dietary supplements for the relief of unstable gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea and methods of using same. The compositions consist essentially of the extract of the fruits of Coffea arabica, in combination with other materials recognized by those skilled in the art as being useful secondary ingredients in a composition for oral administration. The secondary ingredients do not affect the basic properties conferred by the presence of the extract of Coffea arabica, The extract of Coffea arabica is present in compositions according to the disclosure in relatively high amounts, and the compositions are devoid of any dietary fiber other than that incidental in the extracts, and are free from any added alginic acids or their salts. Methods according to the disclosure are described, which involve daily oral administration of the compositions described prior to mealtime.
