Interview Summary

Participants

• Host: Dr. Eric Westman
• Guest: Bella (“Steak and Butter Gal”)

Background

• Bella is a classical pianist who studied at Juilliard in New York.
• She followed a 100% pbf diet for 6 years, seeking health benefits.
• Reported worsening health on 100% pbf: persistent skin issues (cystic acne, psoriasis, eczema), increasing mental strain, memory slips on stage, and ultimately loss of menstrual period (amenorrhea).
• Timeframe around her shift: 2019–2020; the pandemic moved her master’s program online and changed her routine.

Shift to Carnivore

• First reintroduced animal food: scrambled eggs cooked in butter; she describes the first bite as feeling like going from “black and white to color.”
• Developed a strong appetite for dietary fat, especially butter.
• Early “deep healing” phase (roughly years 1–2): mostly steak, butter, and eggs (using eggs to keep costs down as a student).

Current Diet & Tolerance (≈ 6.5 years in)

• Follows a high-fat carnivore approach.
• Expanded variety after healing:
  • Tolerates raw dairy (e.g., raw cottage cheese, raw smoked gouda); says pasteurized dairy doesn’t work for her.
  • Also eats salmon, shrimp, chicken wings, etc.

Observations From Her Community Work

• Runs an online community (“Steak and Butter Gang”) begun after sharing her journey on Instagram and YouTube.
• Describes a recurring pattern among women with hormonal issues (e.g., thyroid concerns, high cortisol, PCOS, amenorrhea): when they increase dietary fat, issues “almost 100%” of the time improve or resolve (her reported observation). Notes this does not require lowering protein.
• When members need more than coaching, they recommend seeking care from physicians familiar with low-carb/carnivore approaches (explicitly mentions referring to doctors such as Dr. Chaffee and Dr. Westman).

Social & Practical Tips (Eating Out)

• Suggests cuisines/restaurants that work well for carnivore:
  • Chinese hot pot
  • Japanese (yakiniku; sushi/sashimi)
  • Korean barbecue
  • Brazilian churrascarias (all-you-can-eat)
• Frames these as affordable options suitable for social gatherings.

Additional Notes From the Conversation

• Bella discusses initial shame/hesitation about eating/handling meat after pbf and how that eased as she reintroduced animal foods.
• A personal motivation mentioned: concern about future fertility after losing her period prompted reconsideration of her approach.
• Dr. Westman remarks that hunger and cravings typically settle within a day or two after switching, and comments on navigating social pressures around food choices.