Chili-Lime Shredded Chicken
This shredded chicken recipe is full of flavor yet requires minimal hands-on cooking time. All you need to use is a crock pot! The versatility of this recipe cannot be beat; with its Hispanic influence, it is perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, nachos and more. What’s even better is this recipe can be made in bulk and saved in the fridge for the week.
Ingredient highlights:
Tomato: The principle phytochemical in tomatoes is called lycopene, which gives tomatoes (and other red fruits and vegetables) their notable bright red color. Lycopene acts as an antioxidant, helping to reduce risk of several cancers and heart disease (i) Cooking the tomatoes actually helps your body absorb and use the lycopene more easily, maximizing the positive effects (ii).
Lime: The juice of a lime is rich in ascorbic acid, more commonly known as vitamin C, which helps in wound healing and immune system strengthening. It also contains anti-nausea properties by neutralizing stomach bile. (iii)
Chicken: Very high in protein, chicken is crucial to building and maintaining muscle. Consumption of protein can help reduce cancer-related weight loss and assist in the maintenance of lean body mass. (iv)
Garlic: One of the most poignant additions to this dish, it packs a nutritional punch on top of its flavor. The nutrients found in garlic are comprehensive and diverse, including potassium, zinc, calcium, etc (v). As a result, its benefits are also diverse, spanning from lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to reducing risk of various cancers. Its antioxidant properties widely benefit the body’s immune system and strengthen its defense against sickness (vi).
Onion: Another strongly flavored allium vegetable, the onion brings various health benefits as well. Onions are high in vitamin B6, which helps with hemoglobin synthesis and thus overall blood health. It is also high in magnesium and calcium, which play a role in bone health among other uses. Overall, onions have been shown to assist in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention (vii).
