Reason why so many people are taking turmeric right now, according to an expert

A kitchen cupboard staple is making waves on TikTok, all thanks to its health benefits.

In case you haven't already seen on TikTok, people are stocking up on turmeric, and making it a part of their everyday routine.

Just one search of the ingredient on the social media platform brings up thousands of videos, from 'golden milk' recipes to supplements and lattes.

But why is turmeric in the spotlight right now, and what are its supposed health benefits? Scroll down now to find out everything you need to know about the rising food trend.

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a deep orange coloured ingredient that can be found on the spice rack. A close relative of ginger, it derives from an Asian plant, and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years.

In recent times, it has become central to Chinese and Indian medicine, all thanks to its alleged health benefits.

Why are people using turmeric?

As you may have already seen on TikTok, people are incorporating turmeric into their daily routine, whether that's adding it to a morning smoothie or steeping it in tea.

But what are the health benefits of turmeric and is it worth the hype?

Tyla spoke to nutritionist Lauren Johnson Reynolds, also known as the London Wellness Coach, about the surprising health benefits of the kitchen staple.

"Turmeric contains an active compound called curcumin, which is known for its anti inflammatory properties," Lauren explains. "Some claim its efficacy is comparable to pharmaceutical drugs and can be useful for those with joint issues or conditions like arthritis. It’s also thought that inflammation may be associated with cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s, metabolic diseases like diabetes, mental illness and even some cancers."

According to Lauren, turmeric is rich in antioxidants too, which can help to neutralise harmful free radicals in the body. In short, it has the power to reduce inflammation by boosting the body's own antioxidant enzymes, which can lead to diabetes, mental health problems, and even gastrointestinal disorders.

"The use of turmeric medicinally is an ancient practice but its recent popularity may be in part due to the shift towards more natural methods of healing," Lauren explains. "Social media allows us access to more variety of tried and tested health and wellness support than ever before which supports this shift away from allopathic medicine for daily use."

How does curcumin work?

The secret behind the magic of turmeric is an active ingredient called curcumin. Boasting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin can allegedly protect the body from free radicals (that's pollution or sunlight), whilst shielding the cells from damage.

In turn, this can reduce the risk of conditions caused by inflammation, such as cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

How can you incorporate turmeric into your everyday routine?

There are lots of different ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet, whether you want to start with a morning smoothie or would prefer a turmeric latte.

If you don't want all of the faff, Lauren recommends trying a highly absorbable curcumin supplement such as Kurk, which you can shop below.

Shop our top turmeric picks below:

Keen to give the trend a go? Shop our top turmeric supplements below (before they sell out).

Wild Nutrition Turmaforte Turmeric, £31.60

Feel Pro Turmeric, from £26.95

Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex

Solgar Vitamins Turmeric Root Extract, £24.50

Kurk Vanilla, from £29.25

Higher Nature High Strength Turmeric, from £25.03