Whenever anybody asked me what I wanted, my answer was always the same: “Apples.” I expressed a constant desire for them, so everyone who visited brought apples: green ones, red ones, tart ones, sweet ones. I devoured them all. I don’t know what prompted this fixation; perhaps some metaphorical urge to “have an apple a day, and keep the doctor away.” Or maybe the urge was more basic: apples contain flavonoids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the body. Was my body communicating something that my mind—and my doctors—didn’t yet understand?
