Watermelon season is FINALLY here! I count the days until it arrives. I can eat my weight in watermelon every single day! Do any of you relate?

This gushing lays the foundation for my topic: The huge disappointment it is when a juicy slice of cold watermelon doesn’t live up to the anticipation. You know what I’m talking about. A less than sweet or mushy melon. (We’ve got a disappointing 27-pounder sitting in our fridge even as I speak.)

So what to do with a melon that doesn’t live up to your expectations? Of course you continue to eat it…waste not, want not, right? But there are other options.

First, consider pureeing slices for smoothies. Pureed watermelon can replace 100% of the water or other liquid you’d use. And this is a really smart thing to do, because of all the incredible health benefits watermelon packs. For instance:

First of all, it’s exploding with lycopene. It has more of this nutrient than any other fruit or vegetable (especially the seedless variety of watermelon). And the more lycopene the better because this powerful antioxidant helps curb your risk of cancer and diabetes.

Next comes the sun protection it offers. There are pigments in plants that help protect them from the sun. Oddly enough, just eating these plants helps shield your skin, too -- at least a little. Watermelon is one of these plants. Research shows the lycopene in watermelon makes it less likely that you get sunburned. (However, you still want to keep using your broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher every day just as a reliable precaution.)

And then there’s the heart protection watermelon provides. It’s rich in citrulline, an amino acid that helps move blood through the body and lowers blood pressure. Your heart also benefits from watermelon’s lycopene. Studies show it helps lower heart attack risk.

This delicious fruit also contains a pigment called beta-cryptoxanthin that helps protect joints from inflammation. Some studies show that over time, it could make you less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis.

Watermelon also contains 9-11% of the vitamin A you need each day. This nutrient is one of the keys to keeping your eyes healthy.

Along with vitamin A, it’s loaded with vitamins B6, and C. Research shows these vitamins are key to helping skin stay soft, smooth, and supple. Therefore (because it’s loaded with water), melon also makes a great face mask. Mix 1 tablespoon of watermelon juice with the same amount of Greek yogurt. Spread over your face and leave on for 10 minutes to slough off any dry, dull skin. Rinse and pat dry.

And if you’re trying to keep your blood glucose levels steady, watermelon is a big help. While it has a glycemic index (GI) value of 80, it’s got few carbs. That means its glycemic load (how quickly it enters your bloodstream and how much glucose it can produce) is a mere 5. Enjoy a slice without guilt or worry!

Last but not least, watermelon boosts hydration, satisfies the sweet tooth, and is easy to digest. Talk about a gift from the food gods! So pureeing watermelon to use as your smoothie liquid is truly brilliant.

Finally, there’s another thing you can do with the puree beyond smoothies. Pour the pureed watermelon into ice cube molds. Once solid, move the cubes into zippered plastic freezer bags and keep frozen. Then, when you want an ice cold drink, drop a few melon cubes into a tall glass of fizzy mineral water. They’ll flavor it as well as load it with vitamins and minerals. I call this “legal soda pop.”