The Science Behind Killa Vanilla: Neuroscience + Habit Change

Do you, like so many of us, find yourself in a battle of willpower when it comes to sugar cravings and the temptation to indulge in your favourite sugary snacks? Well, what if we told you there was a science-backed weapon you could add to your arsenal, one that could help you break free from a cycle of sugar binges?

Killa Vanilla isn't just another product; it's a scientific breakthrough in scent-based craving control, grounded in neuroscience and habit change theory. 

Born from a deep understanding of how your brain works, our golden bullet is designed to be your secret weapon against those sugar cravings. And we’ve seen it happen, as countless of our customers transform their relationship with sugar. 

Today, we’re sharing the science behind this magical neuroscience, so you can discover how to reclaim control of your eating habits and achieve your health goals. 

Cravings: The Power of Scent and the Brain

Cravings: we all get them. But do you ever wonder what causes them? There are many triggers or reasons, but it almost always comes back to one thing: dopamine. 

Sugar, Why Do We Crave You?

Biologically, we crave sugar all thanks to a little chemical called dopamine. Dopamine, known as the ‘feel-good chemical’ is the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and reward.

Originally, in the early days of human evolution, dopamine was essential to our survival. It plays a major role in motivation, signalling how desirable an outcome is. Think of it as our body’s built-in reward system. 

Back when food was scarce, this reward system would motivate us to take actions that met basic needs. One of those was to find and eat as many scarce sugary, high-energy foods as possible so we could survive the long, harsh winters. 

Nowadays, however, sugar is everywhere. It’s no longer a part of survival, it’s a problem. 

While most foods cause your brain to release dopamine, sugary foods give the biggest hit. That’s why when you crave sugar, your brain doesn’t actually need that sugary treat, it simply wants the dopamine hit that it creates.

Sugar cravings can be triggered by certain actions or circumstances, such as a tough day at work, the stress of a thousand tasks or lack of sleep - times when you want to feel good. 

Introducing… The Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effect

Killa Vanilla works by using a neuroscientific phenomenon called the Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effect. 

This Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effect was first discovered in 1990. It was a simple test: participants had to rate the smell of two strawberry-scented solutions, one red and one colourless. The results were simple: the red solution was perceived to smell strong, proving that one sense (in this case, sight) can influence another (smell).

In the context of Killa Vanilla, we trigger the Cross-Modal Sensory Compensation Effect using our specific vanilla scent - the common note found in sugary food and drinks. This takes advantage of your brain's internal reward system to release dopamine, tricking it into thinking you've had a sugary treat when you haven't and satisfying your craving.

Building New Habits, Breaking Old Ones

Neuroscience is just one-half of what makes Killa Vanilla effective. The other is habit change.

A habit is a behaviour we perform almost automatically. It’s an unconscious thought that doesn’t need any decision-making. 

You likely have countless habits that you unknowingly perform each day. Many of them are useful, saving us time and effort, and allowing us to preserve our decision-making energy. But of course, plenty of habits are considered unwelcome, like doomscrolling on social media or smoking.

Excess sugar consumption is a habit. And like any habit, it can be changed or broken. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy though. 

The Habit Cycle

Each habit works in a cycle. This cycle is Trigger > Craving > Action > Reward.

For example, after dinner, you sit on the couch to watch TV (trigger). You start to crave your post-dinner chocolate bar (craving). You eat one chocolate bar, or several (action), and are rewarded with that delicious dopamine hit (reward).

The more you complete this cycle or routine, the more embedded it becomes in your brain. You reinforce the neural pathways that form this association between the craving and reward. That’s why the longer you’ve had a habit, (typically) the longer it takes to break.

Breaking a Habit

Breaking a habit can be incredibly difficult, especially when relying solely on willpower - which is limited. 

But it only takes 21 days, right? Unfortunately, no. That’s a common myth, but exactly that - a myth. One that’s worked perfectly in spreading since it sounds both achievable and believable. Sure, you can break a habit in less than 21 days, but it’s not the norm.   

How long it takes is entirely dependent on the habit, how long it’s been reinforced, the individual and their personality, their commitment to change, current life circumstances… you get the point. It’s impossible to estimate.

From conversations with our customers, we’ve found it often takes three months to break a sugar habit, which is why we designed Killa Vanilla as a three-month pack.

The way Killa Vanilla actually works to break the habit is by replacing the ‘action’ part of the habit cycle. Instead of indulging in a sugary treat, the new action is to reach for your Killa Vanilla and sniff. This way, only one part of the habit cycle needs to be changed, making it an easier transition.

Over time, repeating this new version of the cycle will weaken the connection between your cravings and unhealthy choices. That’s why consistency is so important (our top tip for success). If you only use it sporadically, you won’t be able to change your habits effectively. 

Keystone Habit

Beyond its ability to weaken sugar cravings, Killa Vanilla also acts as a keystone habit for other healthy lifestyle choices.

A keystone habit is a central habit that makes it much easier to start other healthy habits. Think of it like a ripple effect.

If you’re taking Killa Vanilla at regular and consistent times of the day, you can use these moments to attach another positive habit that helps you achieve your wellness goals. This is called habit stacking.

Other positive habits can include exercise or movement, mindfulness, healthy snack swaps and hydration.

Why We Believe in Killa Vanilla

Like any innovation, it started as a concept. But after a lot of self-experimentation to battle our own sugar binges, Killa Vanilla was born. As the first success stories, it’s only natural that we believe in the solution - we wouldn’t sell it if we didn’t!

We spent months reviewing our own past experiences, interviewing self-confessed ‘sugar junkies’, speaking with industry experts and reading countless research papers to develop our unique approach.

The science speaks for itself. And that’s exactly why we were granted a patent for our craving suppression and weight management solution. It just makes sense.

And our customers think so too. After all, it’s the real-world experiences that truly speak volumes. We’ve now helped over 85,000 people break their sugar habits.

Countless people have shared their stories of overcoming their stubborn sugar cravings, improving their overall health, and feeling more empowered in their choices.

Like Mandi, who saw a difference after just 5 days and amazed her family who never thought she’d be able to give up sugar. Now she has less brain fog, more energy, has lost weight and no longer feels a slave to her cravings. 

Mike has also successfully broken his sugar habit, not only losing weight but preventing toothaches and headaches too. Before, he used to get intense sinus headaches every couple of days, often from dehydration. Now the headaches are completely gone.

Still don’t believe us? Just read our Trustpilot reviews. 

Final Thoughts

Killa Vanilla is more than just another weight loss product. It's a testament to the power of science and personal transformation. It’s a confidence booster, a way to take control of your life and health.

From testimonials of decreased cravings and weight loss to stories of increased energy and improved mood, the positive impact of Killa Vanilla is life-changing. 

Whether you're looking to break free from unhealthy habits, improve your overall health, or simply feel more empowered in your choices, we believe that Killa Vanilla can be a game-changer in your journey towards a healthier, happier you.