Requelme Abanto, 26, is a construction worker in Lima, Peru. But he chose this field of work for a reason.

Complaining of stomach pain on a regular basis, he was operated on for a an appendicitis last week. Doctors were quite surprised when they discovered the content of his stomach during the operation: an impressive amount of nails, coins, and copper wires.

The explanation? Abanto had been following this strange regime for months, during which he has swallowed a total of two pounds of metal.

“I swallowed 17 nails in February,” he said calmly.

Doctors were vague on the consequences of such a regime. But what worries them the most is the mental health of their patient, who woke up under the close watch of psychiatrists.