By: Alaina Valdespino, Staff Writer and Photographer

According to Vegan News, over 9 million people identify as vegan or plant-based in the United States and that number is only increasing. In the past year alone, there has been more than a 300% increase in the amount of people that are vegan in America. As astonishing as those numbers are, the reasons why are even more so. From health benefits to environmental reasons, going vegan is trending, and will continue to do so for years to come.

The most common questions asked by non-vegans to vegans is why? Why change my entire lifestyle in order to avoid things I’ve been eating my whole life?