While you may feel fine, the drawbacks of unhealthy eating aren't just obesity or weight gain, which can easily be seen on the outside. Diets high in fat and cholesterol that consist of foods such as anything fried, lots of hamburgers and red meat, potato chips, junk food, and anything with trans fat can make you a heart attack waiting to happen without you even knowing it. Inside your body, you may be in danger of a number of preventable diseases and conditions that could one day lead to your death, including:

• Hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called "the silent killer" because it doesn't have any outward symptoms that would make you feel unhealthy. But a diet that is high in fat and cholesterol can lead to high blood pressure, one of the main factors in the development of heart disease.
• Arteriosclerosis. This form of heart disease occurs when the arteries become thick with plaque made from cholesterol and fat deposits. This plaque attaches itself to the walls of the arteries, causing them to harden and become less flexible.
• Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis occurs when fat deposits within the arteries cause them to narrow, reducing the amount of blood that reaches the heart.

In addition to the danger of heart disease, realize that you won't be able to eat unhealthy foods and feel fine forever. Few people maintain stellar metabolisms throughout their lives. As you get older, your metabolism slows dramatically. Foods that aren't metabolized or burned off get stored as fat. Eating high-calorie, high-fat foods puts you in danger of becoming overweight or even obese as you get older.

How can I eat healthier?

By now, you probably see the benefits of healthy eating, even if you can't feel the effects now. You can take control of your diet by implementing the following changes:

• Switch to whole grains. Whole grains are much healthier than refined white flours that are found in white bread, starches like pastas and rice, and cakes and pastries. Switch your white breads, pastas, and rice to whole grain breads and pastas and avoid high-calorie, high-fat carbs like cake and pastries.
• Eat lean proteins. While hamburgers and cuts of steak probably won't hurt you when they are saved for special occasions or eaten sparingly, lean proteins such as chicken breasts, turkey breasts, and most types of fish are the best types of protein to consume. Make sure they are skinless and baked or broiled, not fried.
• Limit or eliminate sodas and alcohol. Moderation is key in all things, but your diet will be much healthier if you eliminate sodas and alcohol completely. Alcoholic drinks are typically high in calorie and have no nutritional value. Sodas contribute to obesity with their high sugar content and high fructose corn syrup, which is considered to be one of the worst things you can put in your body.

By taking control of your diet now while you still can, you will live a long and healthy life.