These days it is hard to open a magazine or turn on the TV in Japan without seeing an ad about one product or another claiming it will make you healthier, thinner, hairier, or prettier, all in the comfort of your own home.

The president and six other employees of a company that has been cashing in on the health and beauty product boom here have been arrested for selling expensive bracelets they falsely claimed would improve blood flow.

Police suspect the group sold bracelets to about 8,200 people, including many elderly buyers, in 39 prefectures across Japan between January 2004 and April this year. The suspects are believed to have raked in about 2.45 billion yen from sales of the bracelets.

Investigators said the group held sales of clothing and daily goods across Japan. They allegedly took blood samples from customers before and after they wore the bracelets and showed them the results of “tests” through a microscope. By pushing down on a glass plate that held the “after” sample, they made it appear as if there was more space between blood cells, to give the impression that the person’s blood was flowing more smoothly, police said.

Advice to those looking to buy health and beauty. . . keep your money in your pocket and go for a walk.