Episodes of physical sickness are occasions when you can truly test how much spiritual mettle you have.
You do not want to deliberately have a sick body; as far as possible, avoid sickness. But then, sickness is inevitable, just as old age is inevitable. Sickness will come.
You need to have a heart to continue in spite of a heart attack. Otherwise, one episode of even a minor heart attack is enough for you to give up on all fancy claims towards spirituality.
A little bit of physical trouble, and vegetarians turn flesh eaters immediately. Doctor would say, “You must have chicken soup!” “Fine, fine, fine, yes, yes…” And this fellow was a vegan since a decade!