A firefighter from Thailand says he eats a live worm every day to stay healthy.

　　Paisit Chanta, 39, says he has stuck to the regime for almost three decades, reports newspaper Thai Rath.

　　His unusual habit started when he was fishing in his native village in Nakhon Nayok province. He said: "One day, I was sitting there waiting for a fish to eat my bait for hours and was starving. "Suddenly, I realised fish don't die from eating worms so I shouldn't either. I ate them until I was full."

　　He now loves worms, and has become accustomed to chewing them instead of swallowing them whole. The father-of-two credits his good health to the unusual diet, saying mild flu is the worst illness he's had.

　　Work colleague Thepnakorn Kongwien, 28, says Paisit often digs for worms in the area near the fire station. "We're used to that. But we still think it's strange and disgusting," he said.

　　Paisit says the eating the worms is just like eating mushy sticky rice.