The Mushroom Council fuels cognitive health conversations at FNCE 2025 'Energize and Thrive' event
The Mushroom Council fuels cognitive health conversations at FNCE 2025 'Energize and Thrive' event
The Mushroom Council helped fuel the conversation around food and cognition at this year’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, sponsoring a featured segment at a sold-out invite-only 'Energize and Thrive' brain health retreat in Nashville this fall.
More than 80 registered dietitians, media professionals and nutrition influencers gathered for the exclusive event, designed to explore how food can support focus, energy and overall well-being.
The Mushroom Council’s sponsored discussion highlighted mushrooms’ role in the MIND Diet and its connection to brain health and cognitive function.
Consumers are increasingly linking what they eat to how they think and feel. Mushrooms are a natural fit within the MIND Diet, offering nutrients like ergothioneine, an amino acid that is being examined for its role in brain health.
The segment highlighted mushrooms as a functional food: whole, nutrient-rich and accessible. Fresh mushrooms were lauded for contributing to overall wellness with key nutrients such as B vitamins, selenium and ergothioneine — a powerful amino acid that may help protect against chronic age-related diseases, including cognitive decline.
“FNCE is where dietitians go to discover what’s next in food and nutrition,” said Amy Wood, president and CEO of the Mushroom Council. “Our sponsorship brought fresh attention to mushrooms’ wellness story and showed how whole foods like mushrooms can play a real, science-backed role in supporting brain health as part of the MIND Diet.”
Guests experienced an immersive tasting featuring fresh mushroom dishes, showcasing mushrooms’ versatility across cuisines and meal occasions. Attendees also got a sneak peek of the Mushroom Council’s new marketing initiative, “It’s Not Magic. It’s Mushrooms.”, which launches in 2026 with plans for increased Mushrooms 101 and nutrition education specifically for Millennial and Gen Z consumers.