Foods / Vegetables

Ash gourd (Petha): Nutrition and who it suits

Ash gourd is a good choice for weight loss, PCOS and diabetes, and fine in a portion for menopause. 100 g has 17 kcal, 0.8 g of protein and 3.4 g of fibre. One serving is one katori (100 g), about 17 kcal.

A whole ash gourd

Numbers worked out by Poshan Labs from IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN), using the rules on How the ratings work. Last updated 26 October 2026.

Nutrition per 100 g

NutrientPer 100 g
Energy17 kcal
Protein0.8 g
Carbohydrate2.8 g
Fibre3.4 g
Sugars0.2 g
Fat0.1 g
Vitamin C11.4 mg
Potassium372 mg
Folate14.1 µg

Where its calories come from

20%72%
  • Protein 20%
  • Carbohydrate 72%
  • Fat 8%

Worked out from the protein, carbohydrate and fat above, at 4, 4 and 9 kcal a gram.

How many calories in one serving of ash gourd?

About 17 kcal for one katori (100 g), and about 34 kcal if you have two.

One serving, against your day

How much of an adult woman's daily need one serving (100 g) fills.

18%Vitamin C
11.4 mg
12%Potassium
372 mg
6%Folate
14.1 µg
5%Magnesium
19.9 mg
2%Calcium
19.4 mg
2%Protein
0.8 g

Source

Source: Indian Food Composition Tables 2017, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), food code D001. Daily need is from ICMR-NIN Nutrient Requirements for Indians 2020, adult woman, moderate activity.

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Is ash gourd good for weight loss, PCOS, diabetes and menopause?

Weight loss

Good choice

Only 17 kcal per 100 g, so you can eat a full portion.

PCOS and PCOD

Good choice

Only 2.8 g of carbohydrate in a 100 g serving.

Diabetes

Good choice

Only 2.8 g of carbohydrate in a 100 g serving.

Menopause

Fine as part of a meal

Not a standout for calcium or protein in a 100 g serving, but fine as part of a meal.

Weight lossGood choiceOnly 17 kcal per 100 g, so you can eat a full portion.
PCOS and diabetesGood choiceOnly 2.8 g of carbohydrate in a 100 g serving.
MenopauseFine as part of a mealNot a standout for calcium or protein in a 100 g serving, but fine as part of a meal.

These ratings come from the numbers alone. On a free call, Puja looks at what fits your reports. How the ratings work.

Also called

Assamese: Kumura; Bengali: Chalkumra; Gujarati: Bhuru kodu; Hindi: Petha; Kannada: Budagumbala; Kashmiri: Aal; Malayalam: Kumbalanga; Marathi: Kohala; Odia: Panikakharu; Punjabi: Petha; Tamil: Venpoosani; Telugu: Boodida gummadi; Urdu: Peta.

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