Sugars, brown

Brown sugar's Nutrient Density Score comes in at 4 of 100, placing it in the Low band at 50th of 60 in the Sweets category, a reflection of a formula that is essentially pure carbohydrate with no standout vitamins or minerals to offset it.

It's the sugar crystals coated in molasses that give baked goods, glazes, and barbecue rubs their characteristic caramel color and flavor, with a single unpacked teaspoon (3 g) enough to sweeten a cup of coffee or oatmeal. The clearest caveat is its sugar content, which runs high at 97 g per 100 g, a near-total sugar composition since it's the sweetener itself; it does at least stay naturally low in sodium.