I define a hungry day as a day where you find yourself nonstop hungry despite essentially no change from prior days where you’ve been satiated. For purposes of this question assume slept well the night before, hormones are a non-issue, no extra exercise and so forth.
Just curious. I can’t be the only one.
Nope, you’re not the only one. (Although it’s been quite a long time since I felt unusually hungry despite not typically eating until around 12-1pm each day. 
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I think you ruled out all of the common factors, like hormones, activities, sleep. Others might include TV advertising, aromas nearby, others eating, and perhaps the most common category which is simply “association.”
We’ve strongly associated foods with many of life’s events from childhood onward. Memories combined with environmental circumstances can be highly “triggering” (pardon my using this very tired term with new social baggage) - but these associations can even cause salivation and cephalic insulin surges all by themselves.
Sometimes a little salt on the tongue can make hunger pangs disappear. Another is to ask yourself what you’re truly hungry for? A particular menu item? There are often some insights to be had by getting to the bottom of the urge itself.
I reckon gut flora changes as the populations reorganise in response to feeding and fasting.
While those are very good ideas most of them fall under the category of mindless eating or snacking, neither of which I’ve done in decades. I can’t afford to waste calories due to low activity and age.
That’s a thought. I’ve wondered if it happens in response to a need for additional nutrients or energy for repair.
Yep it’s random stuff like you ate lighter the day before or more carbs so your blood sugar over the place,sometimes stress does it too, nothing special just your body asking for more fuel .
My angle, right now, is sunlight is driving my hunger since Vitamin D has a dipolar relationship with B vitamins. Otherwise electrolyte(s) is low. Caffeine intake depletes electrolyte. Quick. I have to be physically active for work, so if that were to seize and I had a quiet place to sleep, long term, I’d be extended fasting. I’m essentially at war with my appetite and have quite a bit of focus on suppressing it.
There are certain ingredients that will increase hunger, salt, sugar and some other spices. Your body will seen hunger signs to the brain when you aren’t giving it certain nutrients that it needs. Your brain is wired for survival so it will insure that by making you hungry. Also some drugs will definitely cause hunger. As do processed foods and fast foods.
In short Your brain believes it isn’t getting what your body needs as nutrients.
I would suggest that salt reduces hunger - as opposed to increases it. Salt can, of course, also make you thirsty.
Sodium and Potassium have dipolar effects. So if you are getting hungry consuming sodium, I’d reevaluate your potassium intake. After fat adaption, salt and magnesium in my water seem mandatory.
I’ve also read that our cravings for salt somewhat cross wired throughout evolution. Like if we eat something and it’s tastes too salty, u r low on sodium. If you eat something salty and it doesn’t affect you, your sodium levels are fine. Like tongues are hyper sensitive to sodium, just so we know how to find this critical electrolyte. I have a travel case dedicated to electrolyte, so I can go longer time frames on the road without eating.
Sometimes when I think I’m hungry I’m actually thirsty.
If I crave a specific food, that could be me or my biome lacking a nutrient.
If I just keep circling back to the kitchen, I’m either craving a dopamine hit, or possibly missing something ubiquitous like salt.
I have my whole life lived in a hot humid environment. I sweat a lot. I have always had the requirement for salt, due to sweating. I get my physical checkups every 6 months. My lab work has always shown my sodium levels low normal and my potassium levels mid range normal. I am very active and walk and hike sometimes long distances. I an 78 never hospitalized and don’t take any prescription drugs. I don’t eat processed foods, or fast foods. You could say I eat off the land. In fact eat to heal and feed my body what it needs. My weight is stable at what I weighed at 21. I take supplements to support my health. While I go to my doctor’s, eye, audiologist, and physician, I question everything. As a a person with Native American ancestors I was taught the old ways. I laughed at the old ways when I was young but as I matured I have found the old ways to be so true and important.
Interesting response. Perhaps others experience this too?
[And I should clarify: Salty foods are often extra tasty, and eating more might then well follow.
I was thinking about salt in isolation - like when added to water. This typically quenches hunger and thirst.]
Salt itself makes me eat less, and I use this when fasting because of that.
Salty foods are different. Easy to overeat those. Nuts, bacon, etc., taste better with more salt and are easier to eat.
Adding salt to normal foods? I’m not sure.
I was raised on a farm were we salt preserved a lot of our meat. I still remember the smoke house and the salt preserved ham and bacon. I love ham and bacon but only eat it as a special meal. As I know that to keep my blood pressure controlled without medication I have to limit my salt intake.
