814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 26, 2003 Potassium-Rich Foods Deter Muscle Cramps COLUMBUS, Ohio Spring is in full swing and park paths are hill of joggers and walkers shedding that winter weight. While the workout can be re freshing, cramping muscles late in the night aren’t nearly as ap preciated. Lancaster Fanning 2003 Fair Guide Booklet ay 24 MORE PEOPLE ATTEND FAIRS THAN ALL PROFESSIONAL SPORTING EVENTS COMBINED ‘lnternational Assoc, of Fairs and Expositions. I ■ ’ r % ‘ , .§2OO \ '' ■ -a- 3 ' B " * 9 :VJp" . . M O4 \ , .3-3 lff I I lIIHIIII lIUI Call 717-721-4415 To Reserve Your Ad Space As some might have been told by their old track coaches, a ba nana a day keeps the cramping away or something like that. Bananas are a good source of po tassium, and too low a level of this mineral may be one cause of muscle cramping. Potassium, an essential nutri ent in the diet, is an electrolyte an ionized salt in the body that can become electrically charged. Potassium and sodium work together across cell membranes to regulate muscle contractions, Th * Uncane, F„ Fair GuJJe SeCHO " E ■ May 24, 2003 Premier Issue is to include: Flair events listings* including contact names and numbers, for fairs in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Pair association news and views. Photos from fairs throughout the region. among other critical body func tions. If there’s too little potassi um, a condition called hypokale mia can result. Symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness and cramping, intestinal complications, and in a worst-case scenario, muscular pa ralysis. The recommended daily amount of potassium is 2,000 itu. C dvertisin May 12 milligrams for anyone 10 years or older, but some health authorities recommend up to 3,500 milli grams a day to help reduce high blood pressure. Foods higher in potassium in clude a medium baked potato with skin (721 mg), one-half cup dried prunes (633 mg), one-half cup raisins (598 mg) and six fluid ounces of prune juice (530 mg). Deadline: