Calories in
balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw
17 kcal per 100 g Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw contains 17 calories per 100 grams, or about 16 calories per cup (1/2" pieces). Per 100 g it provides 1.0 g protein, 3.7 g carbohydrate and 0.2 g fat.
By calories that splits 73% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 8% fat.
Calories in a typical serving
Per-100 g figures are useful for comparison but nobody eats 100 g of anything on purpose. These are the USDA's own household measures.
| Serving | Grams | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup (1/2" pieces) | 93.0 g | 16 | 0.9 g | 3.4 g | 0.2 g |
| 1 balsam-pear | 124.0 g | 21 | 1.2 g | 4.6 g | 0.2 g |
Full nutrition, per 100 g and per cup (1/2" pieces)
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per cup (1/2" pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 17 kcal | 16 kcal |
| Protein | 1.0 g | 0.9 g |
| Total fat | 0.2 g | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.7 g | 3.4 g |
| Fibre | 2.8 g | 2.6 g |
| Sodium | 5.0 mg | 4.7 mg |
| Potassium | 296.0 mg | 275.3 mg |
| Calcium | 19.0 mg | 17.7 mg |
| Iron | 0.4 mg | 0.4 mg |
| Vitamin C | 84.0 mg | 78.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 24.0 µg | 22.3 µg |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg | 0.0 mg |
| Water | 94.0 g | 87.4 g |
USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (FDC ID 168393). A dash means the nutrient was not measured for this item, which is not the same as zero.
How balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw compares
Among the 209 vegetables and vegetable products items on this site, balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw ranks 180 of 209 by calorie density, against a category average of 62 kcal per 100 g — so it is about 73% less calorie-dense than typical for its group.
It carries 5.9 g of protein per 100 calories, a moderate protein contribution.
To burn off one cup (1/2" pieces) (16 kcal), a 70 kg adult would walk for roughly 3 minutes — see the walking calculation on our sister site, or pick a different activity. Treat that as a sense of scale rather than a rule: eating and moving are not a simple ledger.
Questions
How many calories are in balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw?
Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw contains 17 calories per 100 g, which works out to about 16 calories per cup (1/2" pieces). It also provides 1.0 g of protein, 3.7 g of carbohydrate and 0.2 g of fat per 100 g.
What is the macro breakdown of balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw?
By calories, balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw is roughly 73% carbohydrate, 20% protein and 8% fat. That makes it a predominantly carbohydrate-based food.
How long does it take to burn off a cup (1/2" pieces)?
About 3 minutes of ordinary walking for a 70 kg adult (MET 4.0). That is a rough guide for scale, not a prescription — appetite and activity interact in ways a simple subtraction does not capture.
Is this figure exact for the balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw I bought?
No. These are USDA reference values, averaged across samples. Real foods vary with variety, ripeness, growing conditions, cut, brand and how they were cooked — 10–20% either way is normal. Use them for planning, not precision.
Similar foods
Closest in calorie density within vegetables and vegetable products.
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy — public domain. Full USDA description: "Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw". General information only — not medical or nutrition advice. Values are averages for a food type and vary by brand, ripeness and preparation.