142: Vegan Transformation with Dr. Angela Crawford: Exploring the Emotional and Spiritual Impact
Each year, over 70 billion land animals are slaughtered for food. While the physical health and ethical implications of this are well-documented, what often goes unnoticed are the emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual shifts that occur when someone steps away from that system and embraces a fully vegan lifestyle.
Dr. Angela Crawford, clinical psychologist and longtime vegan, appeared on the Plant Based Eating for Health podcast to discuss her groundbreaking book, The Vegan Transformation. This book goes far beyond what’s on your plate. It offers insight into how living vegan creates a ripple effect through every area of a person’s life.
A Research-Based Exploration of Vegan Living
The Vegan Transformation is built on a solid foundation of research. Dr. Crawford collected surveys from over 345 vegans between April 2021 and April 2022 and conducted 75 in-depth interviews over the course of a year. Her findings highlight a powerful truth: going vegan is often a catalyst for profound personal transformation.
These transformations include:
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Greater alignment between values and daily choices
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Heightened compassion toward all sentient beings
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A deeper sense of purpose and meaning
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Emotional healing from past trauma
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A stronger connection to a community of conscious, compassionate individuals
More Than a Diet — A Shift in Identity and Worldview
As someone who has lived a vegan lifestyle for several years, I’ve read many books on the plant-based movement. Most emphasize physical health benefits or animal ethics. But Dr. Crawford’s work stands apart. She takes readers on a journey that reveals how veganism touches the soul.
Whether it’s the sense of relief that comes from no longer contributing to animal suffering, or the joy of living in alignment with deeply held beliefs, The Vegan Transformation shows us that veganism is not just a diet — it’s a doorway to a more peaceful, meaningful life.
