"It's My Habit Now", Poverty Makes 50-Year-Old Man Addicted To Eating Leaves (Photos)

A Pakistani man says he has been addicted to eating trees for the past 25 years. Mehmood Butt, 50, from Gujranwala, a district in the Punjab province, first started eating wood and leaves because he was too poor to afford a basic meal.

He said: 'There was too much poverty in my family. Everything was beyond limit and it was very difficult for me to get a meal. 'I thought it is better to eat wood rather than begging on a street.'

Years later, as Mr Butt took up work and could afford meals, he found himself strangely keen on maintaining his unique eating practice.

'Eating wood and leaves has become my habit now,' he said.

Mr Butt earns almost £5 a day by transporting things from one place to another on his donkey cart. His eyes are always set to eating fresh wood and leaves.

Mr Butt is popular in his community for his eating habits but has left people shocked as he has never got sick from eating trees.