Bella, better known online as Steak and Butter Gal, is making waves across the internet — again. Her latest claim? That eating up to two sticks of butter per day for five years has not only not ruined her health — but actually improved it.
In a series of YouTube updates and Instagram videos, the former vegan turned carnivore influencer has doubled down on her high-fat diet, revealing her allegedly stellar bloodwork, stable hormones, and calm mood. But her claims — especially involving daily butter consumption — are raising eyebrows across the medical and nutrition communities.
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From Vegan to Full Carnivore
Bella didn’t always eat this way.
Years ago, she was a committed vegan. But after struggling with eczema, acne, digestive issues, hormonal irregularities, and low energy, she says she turned to the carnivore diet in search of healing.
And she went all in. That meant steak, eggs, tallow — and, most controversially, butter.
“One to two sticks of butter every day,” she says in her videos. “Every. Single. Day.”
Each stick clocks in at 113 grams — roughly 810 calories and 92 grams of fat, almost all of which is saturated. That’s more than triple the daily recommended intake of saturated fat for most adults, according to the American Heart Association.
Butter Up: Bella’s Bloodwork Claims
To critics who insist she’s playing with fire, Bella responds with confidence — and lab results.
“Not only has my heart not stopped,” she says in a now-viral clip, “I now have more energy, better skin, a stable cycle, and my doctor was impressed with my numbers.”
According to Bella:
- Her HDL (good cholesterol) went from 73 to 98.
- Her triglycerides dropped from 97 to 15.
- Her triglyceride-to-HDL ratio is 0.15 — well below the ideal ratio of 2.0.
“I’m not concerned about my LDL,” she adds, citing Dr. Philip Ovadia, a board-certified heart surgeon and advocate of metabolic health. “It’s about the ratio, not the LDL.”
While Bella hasn’t shared the full lab panel publicly, she insists her results speak for themselves — and credits butter as a key factor.
More Than Just Cholesterol: Mood, Sleep, and Hormones
In her detailed video breakdown, Bella says the benefits go beyond cholesterol.
“Eating butter calms me down — almost instantly,” she says. “It’s like a natural anti-anxiety.”
She reports a stabilized mood, particularly during times of high stress. Before hosting Zoom calls or tackling a heavy workday, she snacks on cold butter straight from the fridge.
She also claims improvements in:
- Sleep: Falling asleep earlier and staying asleep longer.
- Cycle regularity: After years of missing periods, her cycle returned within months of starting carnivore.
- Appetite control: “I don’t crave sugar at all anymore. I feel free from food obsession.”
Bella now typically eats one to two meals a day, incorporating “fat fasting” — consuming only pure animal fats like butter or tallow during fasting windows — which she says prevents energy crashes and keeps hormones balanced.
Scientific Context: What Experts Say
Not all health professionals are sold.
Harvard Medical School cautions that high-saturated-fat diets, like carnivore or strict keto, can raise LDL cholesterol — a known risk factor for heart disease. Even if HDL is high and triglycerides are low, excessive saturated fat has long been linked to negative cardiovascular outcomes.
Dr. Howard E. Lewine, Harvard Health’s chief medical editor, emphasizes the point:
“Animal fat is mostly saturated fat, which is the unhealthiest type of fat. It raises levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol — a major risk factor for heart disease.”
Additionally, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have warned that strict carnivore diets — especially those excluding fiber, fruits, and vegetables — may increase the risk of kidney stones, gout, and osteoporosis.
Still, not all experts disagree with Bella. Dr. Shawn Baker, a well-known carnivore advocate and author of The Carnivore Diet, argues that meat-only diets can improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and mental clarity. Podcaster Joe Rogan has also praised the diet for eliminating chronic pain and digestive issues.
The Gray Area: What We Don’t Know
Bella’s experience is personal, detailed, and — by her own account — positive. But the carnivore diet remains deeply polarizing, largely due to a lack of long-term data.
While her HDL and triglyceride numbers are indeed favorable, key questions remain unanswered:
- What are her LDL particle counts?
- How are her kidney and liver enzymes trending?
- Is there long-term cardiovascular imaging or calcium scoring?
Without those answers, experts caution that anecdotal success — even when backed by lab work — shouldn’t be confused with medical consensus.
Should You Eat Butter Daily?
For most people, probably not.
Current dietary guidelines from the American Heart Association recommend limiting saturated fat to no more than 5–6% of daily calories — about 13 grams per day on a 2,000-calorie diet. One stick of butter contains over seven times that.
Still, Bella’s story highlights a fascinating aspect of nutrition: individual response. Some people appear to thrive on diets that others would find intolerable.
Key takeaways for the average person:
- Focus on whole foods. Whether you eat plants, meat, or both, minimizing ultra-processed foods matters most.
- Track your health. Get regular bloodwork and work with a trusted provider to understand your personal risk factors.
- Don’t fear fat — but be mindful of type and quantity. Some saturated fat in a balanced diet is not inherently dangerous, but moderation remains key.
Final Thoughts
Bella’s butter-fueled journey may inspire curiosity or concern — or both. Her content is charismatic, well-documented, and filled with passion. But it’s not a prescription for the general public.
For now, her story is a vivid case study in the potential of bio-individuality — and a reminder that what works for one person is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
“I just feel calm,” Bella says. “I feel balanced. And for the first time in my life, I’m not hungry anymore.”
