Dr. Talia Zenlea

Dr. Talia Zenlea MD - The Tummy Clinic

Dr. Talia Zenlea

MD

Dr. Zenlea received her medical degree from the University of Vermont. She completed her residency in internal Medicine at Yale University/Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident, followed by 3 years of subspecialty training in gastroenterology at Harvard University/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she had a clinical focus in inflammatory bowel diseases. Thereafter, she joined the faculty at Brown University as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Alpert Medical School, and acted as the Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center at the Women’s Medicine Collaborative.

Dr. Zenlea joined the Division of Gastroenterology at Women’s College Hospital in 2014 as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She was appointed the Associate Program Director for the GI Training Program in 2018, and serves as the Regional Lead for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Endoscopy at Cancer Care Ontario. She is otherwise a full-time clinician, with a clinical interest in inflammatory bowel disease, particularly in pregnancy.

Dr. Bookman and Dr. Zenlea, along with our dedicated team of founders, established The Tummy Clinic with a shared vision of providing comprehensive care for IBS. While Dr. Bookman and Dr. Zenlea do not see patients directly, they understand that IBS management requires more than just medical treatment. They recognize the vital role of psychosocial and behavioral strategies—approaches that fall outside their personal scope of practice but are essential for long-term symptom relief.

At The Tummy Clinic, our team of experts actively provides the hands-on, multidisciplinary care needed to help patients manage IBS effectively.



Frequently Asked Questions

Managing IBS with diarrhea can be challenging, but making the right food choices can help. Here’s what works for many people with IBS:

  • Low FODMAP diet: This dietary approach helps reduce symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain. It involves removing certain foods and gradually reintroducing them to see which ones trigger your symptoms.
  • Easy-to-digest foods: Stick with foods like plain rice, cooked carrots, zucchini, and lean proteins (e.g., chicken, fish) to ease digestion.
  • Avoiding triggers: Steer clear of fatty, spicy, or fried foods, as well as dairy and caffeine. These can worsen symptoms for many people with IBS.

If you’re unsure which foods work for you, consulting with a healthcare provider can help you create a personalized meal plan.

Bloating, gas, and stomach pain are common in IBS. These symptoms often result from:

  • Gas buildup: Undigested food or fermentation in the intestines can cause gas and bloating.
  • Gut motility issues: In IBS, food may move too quickly or slowly through the digestive tract, leading to discomfort.
  • Food sensitivities: Certain foods like high FODMAP foods can cause bloating or pain.

Managing these symptoms typically involves diet modifications, stress management, and finding the foods that work best for your body.

IBS constipation can be tough, but there are ways to improve bowel movements:

  • Increase soluble fiber: Foods like oats, bananas, and carrots can help soften stool.
  • Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep things moving.
  • Exercise regularly: Physical activity helps stimulate digestion.

If these strategies don’t work, gentle laxatives or stool softeners might be considered, but always under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Certain foods can make IBS symptoms worse, including:

  • High FODMAP foods: These include foods like onions, garlic, certain fruits (e.g., apples, watermelon), and dairy.
  • Fatty foods: Rich, greasy foods often cause discomfort for those with IBS.
  • Caffeine and alcohol: These can irritate the digestive system and increase symptoms like diarrhea or bloating.

By tracking your food intake and symptoms, you can start to identify which foods are causing flare-ups and work toward a personalized plan.

Constant constipation in IBS can be caused by:

  • Low fiber intake
  • Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can make stool hard and difficult to pass.
  • Stress: Emotional stress often affects digestion and can contribute to constipation.

If constipation persists despite lifestyle changes, consider speaking with a healthcare provider for further assessment and potential treatment options.

Severe bloating can occur when:

  • Gas is trapped in the intestines due to difficulty digesting certain foods or fermentation.
  • Slow motility: In IBS, the digestive system may move food too slowly, leading to bloating.

To manage bloating, consider reducing high FODMAP foods and incorporating more digestive-friendly meals. Stress management techniques like yoga or mindfulness can also help reduce bloating by calming the nervous system.