United States border agents have intercepted a truck carrying more than $5m-worth of methamphetamine at the US-Mexico border hidden inside a shipment of watermelons.

The drugs were wrapped in plastic painted in two shades of green to resemble the fruit and placed among real watermelons.

More than two tonnes of methamphetamine – in a total of 1,220 packages – was seized by officers.

Stashing drugs among produce is a common way to smuggle the illicit substances across borders – banana shipments are the most popular but officers have recently found narcotics in Gouda cheese and avocados.

It is also a fruit that is abundant in antioxidants, multivitamins, and minerals, making it incredibly beneficial for your health.

Aside from its benefits especially during days when the sun is producing scorching heat, you can use it to make DIY face masks to calm your skin.

If you are looking for home remedies to combat acne, you can try watermelon.

Here’s how to use watermelon to achieve glowing skin:

• Watermelon juice

The nutritious summer fruit can be used to soothe and calm the skin. Simply applying watermelon juice to your face with a cotton ball for 10 to 15 minutes can alleviate skin irritation and redness.

It increases the body’s nitric oxide levels, which promotes wound healing and also reduces acne.

• Watermelon and tomato

A mixture of mashed watermelon and tomato pulp can be used by those with oily skin to smoothen the skin. The malic acid in watermelon and lycopene in tomato act as natural exfoliators and soothe the skin.

• Watermelon and banana

The white rind of watermelon can also be used to calm irritated skin. Just freeze thin slices of the fruit and apply them to the face for 15 to 20 minutes. This will provide hydration and also soothe your skin.

You can apply a mixture of watermelon juice and mashed banana to the face for 20 minutes, as the anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate acne.

• Watermelon with yoghurt and honey

The antioxidants in honey and watermelon can reduce inflammation, while yoghurt can exfoliate the skin.

Combining mashed watermelon with yoghurt and honey and then leaving the paste on the face for 10-15 minutes can be beneficial.

Pregnancy is one of the most fulfilling experiences that could happen to any woman.

But then, there are many challenges that come with being pregnant, with a good number of them related to health issues like acidity and heartburn.

However, studies have it that watermelon does not only have cooling properties that help ease these problems, it also offers instant relief.

In addition, the high water content (92 per cent) and fruit sugars of watermelon have been shown to help alleviate morning sickness and dehydration; and the minerals it contains can help prevent third-trimester muscle cramps.

Here are some of the reasons why every pregnant woman should make watermelon their favourite:

1. Watermelon helps reduce swollen feet and hands

Slight swelling of the feet and hands, which is also known as edema, is a condition that is common during pregnancy.

As a matter of fact, approximately 75 per cent of pregnant women experience swelling during pregnancy, says Mary L. Rosser, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics.

Be that as it may, studies have shown that watermelon with its high water content reduces the blockages in the veins and the muscles and thus help prevent swollen feet and hands.

2. Watermelon helps prevent pigmentation

Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, it is thought to occur due to increased levels of hormones produced in pregnancy.

Pigmented skin is another health issue that most pregnant women suffer. And as if suffering from the condition is not enough, the irritating nature of it has a way of sipping off the joy every expectant mother is supposed to have.

However, watermelon with all its goodness keeps the bowel movements smooth and eases the digestion of food; which consequently affects the skin texture for good.

It is also important to note that regular cleansing of the body helps reduce the pigmentation of the skin in various parts of the body.

3. It boosts energy level

Watermelon has been proven to contain a rich amount of minerals like potassium and magnesium, vitamins like A, B1, and B6.

And these nutrients are natural energy boosters that can greatly boost the energy level of the body.

In addition, the aforementioned nutrients are very useful for the development of the baby’s eyesight, immune, and nervous systems.

4. Watermelon helps prevent preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys.

It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had been normal and can lead to serious effects for both the expectant mother and the unborn child.

However, studies have shown that the high level of lycopene that is contained in watermelon help reduce the risks of preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Owing to this, it goes to say that the more the watermelon the more the chances of having a baby with intrauterine growth retardation is reduced.

5. Watermelon supports the formation of fetus bone

Watermelon is also particularly high in calcium and potassium, minerals that are directly linked to the proper bone development of the unborn child.

The healthy or beneficial effects of watermelon are mainly derived from its unique nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds.

It contains only 46 calories per cup but is high in vitamin C, vitamin A and many healthy plant compounds.

If you are not sure what watermelon does for the body, scroll through to get more gist on the benefits of the fruit.

• Helps you to stay hydrated

Drinking water is an important way to keep your body hydrated. However, eating foods that have high water content can also help. Interestingly, watermelon is 92% water.

High water content is one of the reasons that fruits and vegetables help you feel full. The combination of water and fibre means you’re eating a good volume of food without a lot of calories.

• Improves digestion

Watermelon contains lots of water and a small amount of fibre, both of which are important for healthy digestion. Fibre can provide bulk for your stool, while water helps keep your digestive tract moving efficiently.

Eating water-rich and fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, can be very helpful for promoting normal bowel movements.

• Improve heart health

Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide and lifestyle factors, including diet, may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Several nutrients in watermelon have specific benefits for heart health and may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also help prevent oxidative damage to cholesterol.

Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that may increase nitric oxide levels in the body. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels expand, which lowers blood pressure.

• Aids weight loss

Been trying to lose weight? Then you should be eating more watermelon. Given its high water content, watermelon can fill you up for fewer calories.

One wedge of watermelon has just about 86 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, and no cholesterol. It provides 22 grams of carbs and 5% of your daily fibre requirement, making it a great food for fat burning and weight loss

• Good for skin and hair

Two vitamins in watermelon, A and C, are important for skin and hair health. Vitamin C helps your body make collagen, a protein that keeps your skin supple and your hair strong.

Vitamin A is also important for healthy skin since it helps create and repair skin cells. Without enough vitamin A, your skin can look dry and flaky.

Both lycopene and beta-carotene may also help protect your skin from sunburn