I work out a lot and want to get really built. What can I take to build muscles? Do you recommend Power Bars?

If you're working out hard, you're using lots of calories, and fast-release energy can allow that to happen a bit easier. However, most of the energy in Power Bars comes from sugar. In general I don't recommend many bars on the market for helping athletes "power up."

Actually building muscle involves a well-structured routine, including a regimen that gives muscles the right amount of stress, the right amount of times, on the right days, with adequate rest (that's when you actually build muscle--during sleep), and with the right amount of protein for structural enhancements.

I would never give an average person, or even moderate weekend athlete, the amount of sugar serious athletes use for high-level training due to the insulin stress involved. For high-level body-building, I'd recommend Michael Colgan's book, Optimum Sports Nutrition. (Advanced Research Press, 1993). The book isn't perfect, but it's the best available at present, and contains some fascinating information.

The most popular supplement for the bodybuilder right now is creatine, and it works. It is normally given in a large loading dose of several grams daily for a couple of weeks, then tapered to a maintenance dose, though research is finding that such expensive doses may not be necessary. Consider the magazine All Natural Muscular Development for the most up-to-date non-anabolic steroid information.

Other popular substances include L-carnitine and chromium. Carnitine is expensive, but is also the only substance in the body that handles the final energy-production step in the body of carrying fats from the bloodstream into the cell's mitochondria (those are the energy factories). The body does make its own L-carnitine, but body-builders can assume they are not making enough for the really high demands being put on their muscles.

Chromium is not expensive, but it is good stuff. It helps handle rapid swings in blood sugar caused by the intake of simple carbohydrates. This seems to allow for better formation of new muscle (again, assuming you're using a good routine).

Though I'm not into body-building particularly, I care that those who choose to do so are educated as to how to do it right, without drugs. Read heavily and carefully and use reputable companies -- Rip-offs do exist!

Good health.