Is it bad to be a Vegetarian at age 18?!

Is it bad to be a Vegetarian at age 18?

I got lectured by a mother on the fact that i was a vegetarian at the age of 18 because she said that with not eating red meat i was missing out on three essential enzymes that i need for growing and keeping me from getting sick . Please let me know what i should do someone.

It is absolutely not bad - it's a wonderful and healthy choice, and I applaude you for not being afraid to try it.
The biggest mistake that many young people make when first becoming a vegetarian is not supplementing the protien and B vitamins they need when they take meat out of their diet. You can't live off of bread and starches. You need to eat a lot of green, leafy vegetables, nuts and beans. One serving of broccoli, for example has enough protein in it to supplement any meat you would have needed. Meat, (and all the hormones in it) especially red meat, is a huge contributer to digestive problems and colon disease. I suggest you do some research on the subject and share your findings with your mother in an attempt to enlighten her as to the pro's and cons of eating meat. That's what I had to do to finally shut my mom up haha! Now she rarely eats meat herself!