Ever feel like you might need a 12-step program for your sugar habit? Well, you may be onto something. Researchers at Princeton University found that when hungry rats regularly binged on large amounts of sugar, their brains underwent chemical changes similar to those caused by abuse of substances like nicotine, cocaine and morphine. Though more research is needed to understand the implications of these findings for humans, there are a few things you can try before you start looking at rehab centers. Here are tips from Lisa Young, RD, author of The Portion Teller Plan and an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University. Pump up your protein. Including protein and fiber at each meal will stabilize your blood sugar and fill you up so you’re not reaching for sweets to give you a lift. Try egg whites and whole grain toast at breakfast, turkey on wheat bread for lunch, carrots and hummus as a snack and grilled chicken with brown rice for dinner. Substitute fruit. You’ll be surprised how this natural, healthy treat satisfies your sweet tooth. Apples, pears, oranges and peaches are easy options to keep deskside. Don’t start the day with sugar. A sweet breakfast can be the beginning of a bad cycle that can lead to a sugar binge. For some, eating something sweet can cause a quick blood sugar high and then a crash, which leaves you longing for sugar again.