Most people are told: "If you have thyroid antibodies, you have Hashimoto's. If you don't, you don't." In this episode, Dr. Eric Balcavage, creator of the Adaptive Thyroid Model™, revisits that idea and shows why antibodies are only one piece of a much bigger picture. Discover how: ✅ Th1 and Th17 T-cells, CD8 T-cells, and low T-regs drive thyroid inflammation and tissue damage ✅ PAMPs (pathogen signals) and DAMPs (cell-danger signals) can bind to pattern-recognition receptors [PRRs] on thyroid cells, triggering cytokines and interferon activity ✅ Antibodies may confirm Hashimoto's, but their absence doesn't rule it out (seronegative Hashimoto's is real) ✅ Addressing the drivers of immune imbalance — gut permeability, sleep debt, oxidative stress, nutrient deficiencies — can help restore tolerance and thyroid function Dr. Balcavage breaks down the latest research on how inflammation starts inside the thyroid, why the body isn't "attacking" itself, and what a true recovery plan looks like. 🎯 Key Takeaway: Antibodies show the aftermath — not the origin — of thyroid autoimmunity. To heal, identify and remove the stressors that keep the immune system in defense mode. www.drericbalcavage.com