Frenchman Michel Lotito made history thanks to one of the most unusual quirks of the human body. His diet consisted of more than just regular food—he could eat glass, metal, rubber, and other inedible objects. This is why he was included in the Guinness Book of World Records. This category was later removed, as it was believed that the concept of “weirdest diet” could not be objectively assessed.

It all began in childhood. At nine years old, Lotito swallowed a piece of glass out of curiosity, wanting to impress his friends. Over time, this unusual experiment developed into a true passion. As an adult, he began performing in public, eating razor blades, nuts, bolts, glassware, and other objects.

According to Michel, practicing sophrology—a method combining breathing exercises, meditation, and self-control techniques—helped him cope with such stress. He claimed to have learned to better cope with pain and discomfort.

Despite his unusual diet, Lotito did not act recklessly. Before eating large objects, he would cut them into small pieces and drink plenty of water while eating. Doctors also advised him to use various methods to reduce the risk of damage to the digestive tract, as sharp metal edges could cause serious internal injuries.

The Frenchman’s most famous achievements included completely consuming bicycles, televisions, shopping carts, and even a Cessna 150 light aircraft. It took him about two years, from 1978 to 1980, to finish the plane. In total, he consumed over nine tons of metal during his life, including eight bicycles, fifteen supermarket carts, seven televisions, several chandeliers, and a computer.

Doctors diagnosed Lotito with pica, a rare disorder in which a person experiences a craving for inedible objects. However, scientists were more surprised by the physiological characteristics of his body. Studies showed that the man’s stomach lining was unusually dense, and his gastric juices were highly acidic, helping to break down metal particles gradually. Furthermore, his teeth were exceptionally strong.

Curiously, regular food was much less tolerable for him. Michel reported that he often experienced heartburn and digestive problems after eating bananas or boiled eggs, whereas metal caused him virtually no such discomfort.

Michel Lotito died on June 25, 2007, at the age of 57. The cause of death was a heart attack, not the effects of his unusual diet. The story of a man able to digest metal is still considered one of the most astonishing cases in world medicine and continues to intrigue doctors and researchers.