Substitute for Alcohol and Soda

• Sparkling water can be added to fruit beverages at parties as a substitute for alcoholic beverages. This is a great way to accommodate designated drivers and other nondrinkers. Also, fizzy water is a substitute for many soda brands. Add a lemon or lime wedge, and your kids won't know the difference. Carbonated water may contain small amounts of sodium, but avoiding the harmful high fructose corn syrup in many soda brands makes this alternative a healthier one for both you and your family.

Cooking

• It's been said that boiling sparkling water instead of regular water when preparing pasta or rice will ensure a lighter texture, according to ifood.tv. Sparkling water can also be added to food recipes, in concert with other ingredients, as a substitute for the flavor of alcohol. You can also add it to tea for another alternative to wine.

Health Benefits

• According to a "Journal of Nutrition" study in which a group of women were given both flat and carbonated water to drink over a four-month period, sparkling water was a factor in lowered low density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels and increased levels of high density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol. LDL is thought to be a risk factor for heart disease, while HDL reduces the risk. The secret ingredient may reside in the bubbles; sodium, while harmful if ingested in large enough quantities, may be good for balancing cholesterol when consumed with carbonated water.

Removing Stains

• Stain removal is another popular use for sparkling water. The water's carbonated bubbles have been known to lift wine and food stains from clothing, furniture and carpets, according to bellaonline.com.