Ash gourd: nutrition for pregnancy & family
Also known as Kumura, Chalkumra, Wax gourd, White gourd, Winter gourd, Tallow gourd, Ash pumpkin, Winter melon, Chinese preserving melon, Bhuru kodu, Petha, Budagumbala, Aal, Pathaw iiwbih, Kumbalanga, Torbot, Kohala, Kubhindo, Panikakharu, Venpoosani, Boodida gummadi, Peta. Food group: Other Vegetables. Vegetarian.
Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)
| Energy | 13 kcal |
| Protein | 0.4 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.0 g |
| Fibre | 2.9 g |
| Iron | 0.4 mg |
| Calcium | 19 mg |
| Folate | 5 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 13.0 mg |
| Zinc | 0.6 mg |
| Sodium | 111 mg |
Values: USDA FoodData Central, Waxgourd, (chinese preserving melon), raw (FDC ID 170069; public domain). This is USDA's analysis of the same species, not of the Indian sample in IFCT, so figures for this exact variety may differ. See the full USDA page.
What 100 g gives you in pregnancy
| Folate | 5 mcg — 1% of the daily need in pregnancy |
- Folate lowers the risk of neural tube defects, which form in the first weeks of pregnancy.
From the USDA values above, against NIH / US Dietary Reference Intakes recommended intakes for pregnancy. Requirements differ by country, so percentages are only meaningful against the authority named here. They describe 100 g of this food, not a meal plan; your doctor may advise different amounts for you.
Explore further
By USDA's figures, Ash gourd is a notable source of folate and vitamin c — see what each does in pregnancy.
More other vegetables: Bamboo shoot, tender, Bean scarlet, tender, Bitter gourd, jagged, smooth ridges, elongate, Bitter gourd, jagged, teeth ridges, elongate, Bitter gourd, jagged, teeth ridges, short, Bottle gourd, elongate, dark green.
Ash gourd in Indian languages
| Assamese | Kumura |
| Bengali | Chalkumra |
| English | Wax gourd, White gourd, Winter gourd, Tallow gourd, Ash pumpkin, Winter melon, Chinese preserving melon |
| Gujarati | Bhuru kodu |
| Hindi | Petha |
| Kannada | Budagumbala |
| Kashmiri | Aal |
| Khasi | Pathaw iiwbih |
| Malayalam | Kumbalanga |
| Manipuri | Torbot |
| Marathi | Kohala |
| Odia | Panikakharu |
| Punjabi | Petha |
| Tamil | Venpoosani |
| Telugu | Boodida gummadi |
| Urdu | Peta |
Regional names as recorded by ICMR-NIN in the Indian Food Composition Tables.
Why it can help during pregnancy
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron from food.
Consensus public-health guidance (WHO / ICMR-NIN), for nutrients the USDA values show this food is a good source of. A balanced, varied diet matters more than any single food.
Source for composition: ICMR-NIN, Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (IFCT 2017), code D001 — IFCT values not reproduced; the figures shown are USDA's. IFCT's licence does not allow its tables to be republished electronically, so we cite the record instead.
Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Most everyday foods are fine in normal amounts — ask your doctor or dietitian about anything specific to your pregnancy.