HEI calculation:
By summing the sub scores in 13 categories, the total HEI score is calculated: (the score range in parentheses): total vegetables (0–5), greens and beans (0–5), total fruit (0–5), whole fruit (0–5), whole grains (0–10), total dairy (0–10), total protein (0–5), seafood and plant protein (0–5), fatty acids (0–10), sodium, refined grains (0–10), and “empty” calories from solid fats, alcohol, and added sugars (0–20). A better score, shows a better dietary quality(22).
DASH score calculation:
DASH score, reward points for high intakes of five food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and legumes, low-fat dairy products and whole grains, according to quantiles ranking (i.e., participants in the lowest quintiles receive 1 point, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quintiles receive 2, 3, and 4 points respectively, and the highest quintiles, 5 points). Intakes of sodium, sweetened beverages, red meat and processed meat had the lowest score (i.e., the lowest quintiles are assigned 5 points and the highest quintiles, 1 point)(23).
Sleep quality measurements:
To assess the sleep quality, The Pittsburg questionnaire (PSQI) was used. The Pittsburg questionnaire has 7 scales that include mental quality of sleep (ration of duration of useful sleep from time spent in bed), sleep disorders (waking up at night), dose of medicine measures sleep deprivation and dysfunction. The score of each scale is between 0-3 and the score of 3 in each scale determines the maximum negative. The overall score of this questionnaire is 0 to 21 and the overall score of 6 and above indicates the inadequacy of sleep quality.