A Thai man eats live lizards claiming they boost his sexual performance better than Viagra.

Sommai Nuksom, 59, from Chanthaburi province, has traded the prescription pills for the exotic snack which he claims improves his stamina in bed.

The randy Thai man was visiting his relatives in Trat on March 21 when he shocked them when he plucked a lizard from a wall before popping it into his mouth.

Stomach-turning footage shows Sommai dousing the reptile with soda water then biting into it head-first, munching on the animal with a loud crunch before swallowing it.

He said: 'Lizards are clean animals because they only eat insects. But before eating, the lizard must be washed thoroughly with soda water instead of tap water.

'I've seen my grandparents do this a long time ago. I believe that lizards really do have the same properties as sexual performance enhancers. It takes effect after around three hours.'

He said that he does not eat lizards to entertain people but does it because he believes in their 'energizing' effects.

Sommai added: 'I have tried tablets before for increasing my arousal but eating geckos is more powerful. It's also natural and safer. Many people I know had headaches from using tablets.'

Some species of lizards, including certain iguanas, geckos, monitor lizards, and skinks, are considered exotic delicacies in parts of the world and are generally safe when cooked properly.

However, it is discouraged to eat them raw as they can carry disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Campylobacter.