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We are used to adding salt to almost everything in order to flavor our food, but too much salt can have an adverse impact on your health. The good news is that you don’t need salt to flavor your food. In fact, if you want to bring out more interesting and diverse flavors in your food, move away from salt! You’ll be healthier, and your meals will be more interesting.

Here are 5 spices you can use instead of salt:

1. Allspice

If you want to add a twist to almost any meal, add allspice instead of salt. This interesting spice includes flavors that are likely to remind you of peppercorn, cinnamon, juniper, and more -- all in one. It’s actually quite good in soups and on vegetables. And, of course, you can add it to meat to give it a Jamaican flavor, since it’s the main ingredient in most jerk dishes.

2. Paprika

Add a little spice to your life with paprika. Rather than adding salt to meat rubs and marinades, I like to add paprika. Paprika is thought to be good for your health, and it adds a new flavor to almost everything you cook. I like it especially when I barbecue chicken or shrimp. You can also add paprika to vegetables. Mix it in with mashed potatoes instead of salt next time, and be amazed at how a normally bland dish becomes interesting. (Click here for an amazing Spicy BBQ Poultry Marinade recipe.)

3. Oregano

This is one of my favorite spices, and I grow (and dry) it myself. I like to add fresh or dry oregano to cucumber and tomato dishes, and mix it in with vegetables. This is another spice that goes well in marinades and rubs. Use it when you make homemade pizza or pasta sauce rather than loading your sauces up with salt.

4. Cilantro

If you want something unique and strong, cilantro is your herb. You can provide an exotic flavor to any dish by adding cilantro. I like to mix cilantro with rice. It’s also a staple in many Latin American and Indian dishes, so using it can bring a bit of flair to any meal. Add it to guacamole or salsa and salt becomes completely unnecessary.

5. Lemon or Lime Zest

Add lemon or lime zest to fish or chicken and salt is not needed for flavor. This is a staple of many of my summertime marinades. I also like to add it to certain vegetable dishes, like string beans.

Use any of these spices, or mix and match them, and you’ll be amazed at how great your food tastes without salt.